The Need

Cancer remains one of the most pressing medical challenges worldwide, necessitating novel therapeutic approaches to combat its proliferation. Despite advancements, targeted therapies are often limited by immune responses or cumbersome production processes. There's a growing demand for efficient, cost-effective, and minimally immunogenic treatments to address this urgent need.

The Technology

We introduce a breakthrough technology involving artificial camelid antibody fragment (nanobody) sequences meticulously designed to target human nucleolin, a protein predominantly found on the surface of proliferating cancer cells. Leveraging our innovative approach, we've strategically swapped 1-3 of the complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) of 4LB5 VH to VHH nanobodies. These nanobodies, derived from both llama and camel antibodies, hold immense promise in exhibiting potent antineoplastic properties.

Commercial Applications

• Antineoplastic therapy: Targeting nucleolin with our nanobodies offers a novel avenue for combating cancer, potentially leading to more effective treatments.
• Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs): Our nanobodies can be conjugated to chemotherapeutic agents, enabling precise delivery to cancer cells while minimizing systemic toxicity.
• Radiotherapeutic applications: Coupling our nanobodies with alpha or beta emitter radionuclides opens avenues for targeted radiotherapy, enhancing cancer treatment efficacy.
• Molecular imaging: By incorporating fluorophores or PET/SPECT radionuclides, our nanobodies facilitate non-invasive imaging, aiding in cancer diagnosis and monitoring.
• Protein transduction domain (PTD): The nucleolin-binding ability of our nanobodies presents opportunities for developing innovative PTDs, facilitating the intracellular delivery of various cargo into cancer cells.

Benefits/Advantages

• Enhanced specificity: Our nanobodies precisely target nucleolin on cancer cells, minimizing off-target effects commonly associated with traditional therapies.
• Cost-effective production: Nanobodies can be efficiently produced in bacteria, offering a cost-effective solution for large-scale manufacturing.
• Minimal immunogenicity: Due to their small size and monomeric nature, nanobodies are less likely to elicit an immune response, eliminating the need for humanization.
• Versatile applications: Beyond antineoplastic therapy, our nanobodies hold potential across a spectrum of applications including ADCs, radiotherapy, imaging, and protein delivery.
• Patentability potential: With limited prior art in the field, our technology presents significant opportunities for patent protection, paving the way for commercialization and market exclusivity.