- With Photo
- Human growth factors produced in barley grain, using renewable, geothermal energy
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REYKJAVIK, Iceland, May 13REYKJAVIK, Iceland, May 13 /PRNewswire/ -- ORF Genetics http://www.orfgenetics.com), an Icelandic biotechnology company, announced today the opening of new and revolutionary 22,000 ft^2 (2043m^2) cultivation facilities in Grindavik, Iceland. Utilizing its unique Orfeus(TM) protein production system in barley, ORF Genetics produces and markets biorisk-free ISOkine(TM) human growth factors for use in medical research, drug discovery and cosmetics.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080513/DC22192 )
The state-of-the-art Green Factory uses geothermal energy for safe, indoor cultivation of genetically engineered barley. It is set in the middle of a lava field, close to Iceland's best-known tourist attraction, the Blue Lagoon. The barley is cultivated in a soil-less hydroponic system on specially designed conveyor belts, allowing for the production of up to 90 different proteins at a time. The Orfeus(TM) system and new facilities allow ORF the flexibility to easily scale their production according to the unique requirements of different customers and markets. Currently ORF has more than 100 different growth factors in its pipeline and 10 ISOkine(TM) growth factors already on the market.
Bjorn L. Orvar, CEO of ORF Genetics, said at the opening of the greenhouse: "Our research and development efforts in recent years are now bearing fruit, and we see great opportunities for rapid growth, specifically in the field of drug discovery and cosmetics."
Minister of Industry Ossur Skarphedinsson said as he harvested the first barley in the Green Factory: "ORF's ideas have sprouted from the dynamic Icelandic public research environment, and the company's leaders, with unflagging entrepreneurial optimism, have overcome all difficulties, making ORF a unique high-tech company in the world. The new 'Green Factory' leverages the company's deserved green image, as production is based on green and renewable energy from Iceland's volcanic depths."
ORF will be exhibiting their products in the US at the upcoming Supplier's Day Show hosted by the New York Society for Cosmetic Chemists in May.
ORF Genetics
Headquartered in Reykjavik, Iceland, ORF Genetics Ltd. is a privately owned biotech company that is committed to economically viable green technology for the production of growth factors and other hard-to-produce recombinant proteins. Utilizing its unique Orfeus(TM) plant-based expression system, the company is currently producing biorisk-free, high purity ISOkine(TM) products to serve the needs of the medical research, cell culture media, diagnostics and cosmetic markets. ORF was recently awarded the prestigious 2008 Icelandic Innovation Award by the Icelandic Centre for Research and the Icelandic Trade Council.
Note to Editors:
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Website: http://www.orfgenetics.com
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