Replizyme Limited

YO10 5DQ Heslington, York

Genesis 2 Building, York Science Park

UK

Dr. John Sanvoisin

Genesis 2

YO10 5DQ Heslington, York

Genesis 2, York Science Park

UK

Phone 0044-1904-751155

Fax 0044-1904-438383

Replizyme Ltd. is a privately financed biotechnology company founded in 1999 by a group of scientists at the University of Leeds (West Yorkshire, UK). The Company moved in August 2002 to modern laboratories on the York Science Park adjacent to the University of York (North Yorkshire, UK), and is part of the Bioscience Yorkshire technology cluster. The company provides compound profiling, compound screening and contract research services for drug discovery and development. As a young SME, Replizyme is in the process of obtaining ISO09001 accreditation.

The research and development at Replizyme is carried out by 12 people, all of whom have university degrees in chemistry, biochemistry or molecular biology, including 3 PhDs. The facility is well equipped for both microbiology and molecular biology techniques, and for the purification and characterisation of proteins and nucleic acids. The equipment available in the laboratory includes PCR machines, a UV-spectrometer, and fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) system. The company also utilizes the large-scale protein production and purification facilities located in the Technology Facility, located in the Department of Biology (University of York). Presently, the company provides sponsorship and training for two PhD students. Dr. Darley is jointly supervising a BBSRC-funded CASE PhD student with Dr. Baumann and Dr. Fairlamb (University of York). This project strives to develop a new family of fluorescent purine and pyrimidine base analogues that can be incorporated by target polymerases and exploited for non-radioactive assays of nucleotide triphosphate incorporation. Dr. Darley and Dr. Clark are supervising a further BBSRC-funded CASE PhD student on a project to clone, express, and purify Hepatitis C polymerase genotypes (other than 1b) for structure-function studies.

The company has expertise in gene cloning, and the purification and characterisation of recombinant RNA and DNA polymerases. The company specialises in the development of both real-time and end point assays of nucleotide triphosphate incorporation by polymerase targets. These targets include both DNA- and RNA-dependent polymerases and template-independent polymerases. They have a reputation for developing these assays for high throughput screening applications, including the screening of client’s compound libraries, and creating optimized assay kits for specific polymerase targets. The experience gained by Replizyme dealing with large pharmaceutical companies would be transferred to participants of the training network, thus providing a unique work experience.

The research staff at Replizyme provides expertise and training in cloning, expression and purification of DNA and RNA polymerases, and the development of high throughput in vitro assay techniques for commercial applications.

Unfortunately, Replizyme had to announce there liquidation in August 2008.