Cancer antibody strategy
Researchers at The Scripps Research Institute and The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology have developed a unique assembly strategy to produce an anticancer targeting antibody, an approach that combines the merits of small molecule drug design with immunotherapy.
Among the potential therapeutic advantages of this approach is a dramatically increased circulatory half-life of the compound, which could give patients greater exposure to the benefits of any treatment.
In a study, the scientists created what is known as a 'chemically programmed antibody' by using small cell-targeting molecules and a non-targeting catalytic monoclonal aldolase antibody in a novel self-assembly strategy. This compound was evaluated in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer.
The new study achieved a significant enhancement of the treatment of metastatic breast cancer in animal models. The study showed the new hybrid compound remained in circulation for a week. In comparison, the small molecule drug was cleared in a matter of minutes.
"Although the study focused specifically on breast cancer, these new findings could have broad application in the treatment of a number of other cancers, potentially increasing the efficacy of a number of existing or undeveloped small molecule therapies," said Dr Subhash Sinha, associate professor in the Scripps Research department of molecular biology and the Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology.
Until recently, it had been widely accepted that while antibodies possess a number of therapeutically advantageous traits, treatment with monoclonals required a different antibody for each specific target. However, the scientists have been showing that different small molecule targeting agents - called programming agents or adapters - can be used to selectively direct the same antibody to different sites for different uses so that only a single antibody is required for multiple tasks.
Source:
Pharmaceutical Business Review Online
Scicentists unveil cancer antibody strategy
Helen Marshall
Among the potential therapeutic advantages of this approach is a dramatically increased circulatory half-life of the compound, which could give patients greater exposure to the benefits of any treatment.
In a study, the scientists created what is known as a 'chemically programmed antibody' by using small cell-targeting molecules and a non-targeting catalytic monoclonal aldolase antibody in a novel self-assembly strategy. This compound was evaluated in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer.
The new study achieved a significant enhancement of the treatment of metastatic breast cancer in animal models. The study showed the new hybrid compound remained in circulation for a week. In comparison, the small molecule drug was cleared in a matter of minutes.
"Although the study focused specifically on breast cancer, these new findings could have broad application in the treatment of a number of other cancers, potentially increasing the efficacy of a number of existing or undeveloped small molecule therapies," said Dr Subhash Sinha, associate professor in the Scripps Research department of molecular biology and the Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology.
Until recently, it had been widely accepted that while antibodies possess a number of therapeutically advantageous traits, treatment with monoclonals required a different antibody for each specific target. However, the scientists have been showing that different small molecule targeting agents - called programming agents or adapters - can be used to selectively direct the same antibody to different sites for different uses so that only a single antibody is required for multiple tasks.
Source:
Pharmaceutical Business Review Online
Scicentists unveil cancer antibody strategy
Helen Marshall
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