Racing towards new drugs thanks to cell-free protein synthesis

Based in Berlin-Dahlem, the science-oriented start-up PharmaTech is unleashing new opportunities for personalised medicine

Without proteins, life would be impossible. The macromolecules are made up of amino acids and are a key component of every living cell. Our muscles, heart, brain, skin, and hair consist predominantly of proteins. “However, proteins call also be created in cell-free systems, even some that are not produced in living cells,” says Stefan Kubick, CEO of B4 PharmaTech, a Berlin-based start-up.

It all starts by obtaining an extract from a living cell. This so-called lysate contains all the essential elements needed for cell-free protein synthesis, which takes about 60 minutes in a reaction vessel. In living cells, however, protein production can take between 24 and 48 hours. “Frozen lysate can be used for automated, cell-free protein synthesis for more than ten years,” explains biochemist Kubick, during our conversation at the so-called Start-up Villa at Freie Universität Berlin (FU) in Dahlem. This technology significantly speeds up the development of drugs, he says.

A native of Esslingen and an avid sailor, Kubick studied at the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart, where he completed a PhD at the physiology department before switching to Freie Universität Berlin as a postdoc in 1998. The topic of proteins continued to preoccupy Kubick when he made the leap into the private sector and joined RiNA GmbH, a start-up founded by the biochemistry professor Volker Erdmann, in 2000. For nine years, he focused his ambition on developing new, cell-free protein synthesis systems, working together with industry partners like Qiagen and Roche. “That turned out great,” says Kubick. The synthesis kits were particularly successful. Since the cell-free systems did not contain genetically modified organisms, it was possible to distribute the kits by post. After mixing the necessary substances, the desired protein was ready to use after just 60 minutes.

This was followed by 16 years of successful research at the Fraunhofer Institute in Potsdam before the industrious scientist leaped back into the private sector. Supported by Profund Innovation, he founded B4 PharmaTech together with four colleagues, who come from the fields of chemistry, medicine, and antibody research, in 2023. “We can cover almost every associated area from the chemical laboratory to the clinic,” says Kubick.

B4 PharmaTech is currently using a lab at the Berlin School of Technology (BHT). “To us, using the laboratory capacities at the new FUBIC (Business and Innovation Center next to Freie Universität Berlin Campus) would be extremely interesting,” says Kubick, pointing to the building site behind the Start-Up Villa. After all, their research is located at the interface between chemistry and biology. The aim was to develop new antibody-drug conjugates: “Which are patentable, developable right down to the clinic, and offer a wide range of options in the area of personalised medicine.” By integrating artificial intelligence, a large number of novel designer proteins could be produced. Kubick values the proximity to the university for several other reasons, including science communication, resource planning, and the development of research aims. He is a lecturer at BHT, Technische Universität Berlin, and the FU. He completed his postdoctoral thesis at the latter institution, and has been offering seminars, internships, and lectures in the field of cell-free protein synthesis for over 20 years.

Getting feedback from his students is important to him. “Our company wants to offer students the opportunity to share their ideas on what might be possible in cell-free synthesis.” A start-up so close to the university campus like B4 PharmaTech is a great place to do so. Job offers can be extended to them after they graduate. “We're ready to grow. Our ideal situation would be at least 30 employees. The students often ask us about possibilities to contribute their specific expertise.”

Dr. Paul Janositz for POTENZIAL

B4 PharmaTech (b4pt.de)