These hybrid antibody molecules can be engineered with a variety of small synthetic molecules, and the combination of immunogenic properties results in compounds with powerful target destruction or imaging capabilities.

Available for licensing is a new class of hybrid molecules composed of an antibody, or antibody fragment, and a small synthetic molecule (such as a small molecule inhibitor, or cytotoxic compound). These biological and chemical components are covalently linked at an engineered selenocysteine near the C-terminus of the antibody, or antibody fragment. Through this covalent linkage, the chemical and the biological component can acquire properties of one another. For example, the synthetic molecule acquires antibody properties such as circulatory half-life, effector functions, and ability to interfere with protein interactions whereas the antibody, or antibody fragment, acquires properties of the small synthetic molecule such as specificity, affinity, and stability to bind to targets that are sterically inaccessible to immunoglobulins. The technology can also be used to equip an antibody, or antibody fragment, with a small synthetic molecule that enhances target destruction or imaging capabilities through site-selective biotinylation, PEGylation, addition of an imaging agent, or addition of a cytotoxic agent such as a chemotherapeutic drug or a chelate for radioisotope labeling. The hybrid antibody molecules can be engineered with a variety of small synthetic molecules, and the combination of immunogenic properties and those of the small synthetic molecules results in compounds with powerful target destruction or imaging capabilities. This technology could be applied towards the targeted delivery of small synthetic molecules to various cell surface receptors, and may have applicability as a prevention, diagnosis, or therapy for numerous disease states.

Applications:

• Potent novel compositions that retain immunogenic properties and those of small synthetic molecules that can be produced at a large scale
• Method to prevent, diagnose, and treat cancer, infectious diseases and autoimmune diseases

Market:

• Monoclonal antibody market is projected to exceed $30 billion by 2010.
• Revenue from antibodies for therapeutics and diagnostic uses are expected to grow at an average annual growth rate of 11.5%.

Preclinical

U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/909,665 filed 02 Apr 2007 (HHS Reference No. E-146-2007/0-US-01)

Inventors:
Christoph Rader et al. (NCI)

Licensees Sought:
Available for exclusive or non-exclusive licensing.

Collaborative Research Opportunity:
The National Cancer Institute, Center for Cancer Research, Experimental Transplantation and Immunology Branch, is seeking statements of capability or interest from parties interested in collaborative research to further develop, evaluate, or commercialize Selenocysteine Mediated Hybrid Antibody Molecules. Please contact Dr. Christoph Rader at (301) 451-2235 or raderc@mail.nih.gov for more information.