[nanoPost] Nanoscale therapeutic antibodies

Company Belgium

The company is engaged in the discovery and development of antibody-derived therapeutic proteins to treat a range of serious human diseases. 

Because of their small size, unique structure and extreme stability, they combine the advantages of conventional antibody therapeutics with the key features of small-molecule drugs.

THE PRODUCT

The product are antibody-derived therapeutic proteins that contain the unique structural and functional properties of naturally-occurring heavy-chain antibodies. The technology was originally developed following the discovery that camelidae (camels and llamas) possess fully functional antibodies that lack light chains. These heavy-chain antibodies contain a single variable domain (VHH) and two constant domains (CH2 and CH3).

Importantly, the cloned and isolated VHH domain is a perfectly stable polypeptide harbouring the full antigen-binding capacity of the original heavy-chain antibody. These newly discovered VHH domains with their unique structural and functional properties form the basis of a new generation of therapeutic antibodies.

The product combines the advantages of conventional antibodies with important features of small molecule drugs. Like conventional antibodies, the product show:

- high target specificity
- high affinity for their target
- low inherent toxicity.

However, like small molecule drugs they have the opportunity to inhibit enzymes and readily access receptor clefts. Furthermore, the product

- are extremely stable
- have the potential to be administered by means other than injection
are easy to manufacture.

The product have a high homology with the VH domains of human antibodies and can be further humanised without any loss of activity. Importantly, the products have a low immunogenic potential, which has been confirmed in primate studies with lead compounds.

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