PROLOR Biotech

About PROLOR Biotech

PROLOR Biotech, an Israeli biopharmaceutical company, specialized in developing longer-acting versions of existing therapeutic proteins. The firm's core business revolved around its proprietary Carboxyl Terminal Peptide (CTP) technology. This technology extends the active life of protein-based drugs in the body, aiming to reduce the frequency of injections required for chronic conditions. For instance, their leading product candidate, hGH-CTP, was developed to be a once-weekly injection for Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD), a significant improvement over the standard daily treatments.

The company was founded as Modigene Inc. in 2003, with Shai Novik founding the Israeli subsidiary in 2005, which later became the core operation. In June 2009, Modigene Inc. officially rebranded to PROLOR Biotech, Inc. to better reflect its focus on protein longevity. The company was led by CEO Dr. Abraham Havron, a veteran of the biotechnology industry with extensive experience in drug development, and President Shai Novik. Dr. Havron's career included roles at Interpharm Laboratories and BioTechnology General, where he was involved in the development of seven approved biopharmaceuticals. Based in Ness Ziona, a major biotech hub in Israel, PROLOR operated state-of-the-art R&D facilities to advance its pipeline.

PROLOR's business model focused on leveraging its CTP platform to improve established, blockbuster protein therapies. The company held an exclusive license from Washington University in St. Louis for the CTP technology for all proteins and peptides, with the exception of four endocrine proteins licensed to Merck. This strategy mitigated some of the risks associated with early-stage drug discovery by working with molecules that already had proven therapeutic effects. The company's pipeline included drug candidates for GHD, hemophilia (Factor VIIa and Factor IX), and treatments for obesity and diabetes. A significant milestone was achieved in April 2013, when OPKO Health, Inc. announced its acquisition of PROLOR in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $480 million. The acquisition was completed in August 2013, integrating PROLOR's promising pipeline and technology platform into OPKO's broader portfolio to create a more robust clinical development pipeline.