Technology
ContraVac’s platform technology is based on the ongoing research conducted at the Center for Contraceptive and Reproductive Health at the University of Virginia – where the discovery of sperm specific biomarkers and the subsequent development of specific antibody reagents directed toward these biomarkers, will be applied to various existing commercial diagnostic formats. These biomarkers (protein antigens) possess certain characteristics and properties that lend themselves to be used as valuable tools in diagnostic assays; they all are highly sperm specific (only expressed in mature sperm) and highly expressed (abundant). As a result, these biomarkers can be used in various standardized diagnostic formats such as lateral flow immunodiagnostic devices (similar to home pregnancy tests) and Elisa assays.
SP-10 Biomarker
SP-10 will be the first biomarker used in ContraVac’s consumer line of fertility products; as it possesses certain characteristics that allow it to be a highly valuable target in diagnostic sperm assays. It is a highly abundant protein found only in the acrosome of a mature sperm, which has been verified using various molecular, biochemical, and bioinformatical techniques. Additional biomarkers have been identified which localize to various parts of a mature sperm and offer the benefit of being valuable targets of diagnostic assays.
Antibody reagents
Various polyclonal and monoclonal antibody reagents have been developed that bind specifically to their corresponding antigen targets found in mature sperm. A scaleable manufacturing and purification process has been developed in order to produce the requisite amount of reagents needed in ContraVac’s various products.
