|
Results published in current issue of the Journal of Molecular Biology
Heidelberg, Germany | May 13, 2008 | Affimed Therapeutics AG, a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of antibody therapeutics, announced today that a collaboration with Dr. Stefan Weiss at the Institute of Biochemistry of the Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich has strongly validated a target for cancer metastases amenable to the development of antibodies or other therapeutic interventions. The target, 37 kDa/67 kDa laminin receptor precursor and/ or its receptor, is overexpressed in cancer cell lines and their metastatic potential correlates with LRP/LR levels. Affimed was able to demonstrate that an antibody targeting this receptor could reduce invasive potential by up to 40% and adhesion by up to 70%. This study was published on May 2nd in the Journal of Molecular Biology*.
LRP/LR acts as a receptor for prions and viruses, but has also been shown to be overexpressed in metastatic cancer tissue. In the present study, it was challenged in a metastatic cancer cell line with a variety of therapeutic strategies including single chain and full IgG antibodies, siRNAs and small molecules (polysulfated glycanes).The effects on the invasive and adhesive properties of the cells were examined using in vitro models of cell migration. Invasion and adhesion are the processes by which cancer cells metastasize and spread to multiple other regions of the body. The single chain and full length antibodies were able to reduce invasion by 30% and 40%, respectively, and adhesion by 60% and 70%, respectively.
Prof. Melvyn Little, CSO of Affimed commented: “Our data suggest that reagents directed against LRP/LR, in particular antibodies, might be potential cancer therapeutics blocking metastases. Once again we have been able to demonstrate Affimed’s competence in generating new, fully human antibodies against innovative targets.”
Further data concerning this collaboration has also been accepted for publication later this year in the Journal of General Virology. Affimed has a pipeline of preclinical cancer antibodies, poised to enter the clinic, and a number of other early stage projects including this.
SOURCE: Affimed Therapeutics AG |
