DRUGS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Bi-Specific Antibodies for Cancer Therapy

Protein One, LLC is emerging as a cutting edge developer of bi-specific antibodies for cancer therapies. Our bi-specific antibodies connect host’s T cells to tumor cells which results in the activation T cells to express proteins like perforin and granzymes and initiate apoptosis of cancer cells.

The first successful example is Blinatumomab (MT103), anti-CD19 and anti-cd3 bi-specific antibody, for the treatment of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and acute lymphoblastic leukemia.  CD19 is a surface molecule expressed on B cells. This drug was developed by Micromet, Inc., a German-American company, in collaboration with Lonza. Micromet was later acquired by Amgen, which has furthered the drug's clinical trials. In July 2014, FDA granted breakthrough therapy status to Blinatumomab for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). 

Protein One takes a similar approach to target solid cancers, such as melanoma, lung cancer, etc. with bi-specific antibodies.  We have already applied for a patent for our first bi-specific antibody.  A number of other bi-specific antibodies are in the development stage.