Objective

Leaf Expression Systems is a manufacturing and contract development business specialising in the expression and production of proteins, metabolites and complex natural products for research and bio-medical applications using a proprietary, transient expression technology, Hypertrans®. Leaf Expression Systems is based in a purpose-built, state of the art facility on the Norwich Research Park that was opened in January 2017. It provides services to companies and research organisations by producing sufficient quantities of these valuable proteins and other natural products to enable research and product development. Hypertrans®, is efficient, safe and simple to use to quickly produce proteins in plants such as vaccines, antibodies or enzymes. The speed of the system means that it can rapidly produce large amounts of protein and so it is well suited to rapidly responding to emergencies like pandemics. Additional potential uses of the technology include producing many proteins at the same time and so creating new biochemical pathways for producing complex ‘bioactive’ molecules such as novel anti-cancer drugs and anti-infectives. We are currently working on a number of grant funded projects to develop virus-like particle based vaccines against emerging diseases.