On January 8, 2023 EVQLV and Libera Bio reported a collaboration agreement to jointly develop and deliver new antibodies to high-value intracellular cancer targets (Press release, Libera Bio, JAN 8, 2023, View Source [SID1234626615]).
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Multiple pathways inside tumor cells, such as the MAPK pathway or the "hedgehog pathway," may create the conditions for tumors to develop, grow and evade the immune system. Disrupting the signals in these pathways in one or multiple points may slow down the growth of the tumors and inhibit their proliferation. Small molecules have been successfully developed to this goal, but they may present a significant level of toxicity and a lack of specificity. Engineering antibodies to force them inside tumor cells has also been attempted but is a complex process, wrought with failure.
Libera Bio’s Multifunctional Polymeric Nanocapsules (MPN Technology) offer an elegant way to deliver antibodies inside tumor cells. The relevant antibodies are encapsulated in nanocapsules made of natural polymers of approx. 1/10,000th of a millimeter in diameter. The nanocapsules protect antibodies or other biologics from degradation. Actively or passively targeted, the MPNs deliver these biologics to intracellular targets. A second active ingredient may be co-encapsulated in the MPN and delivered simultaneously to the cytosol.
Whole antibodies, close to their natural form, can be delivered in this manner. EVQLV has developed a proprietary, AI-based system to optimize the design of such antibodies. EVQLV will computationally generate and rapidly screen a large set of diverse antibody candidates against a prioritized list of intracellular targets.
EVQLV and Libera Bio will jointly develop novel antibodies and their MPN delivery, with the goal of offering them to larger pharma companies to conduct late-stage development and commercialization.
"Combining computational antibody design with Libera’s novel intracellular delivery technology allows us to push beyond the current limitations of antibodies, opening an array of innovations for patients." said Andrew Satz, Co-founder and CEO of EVQLV. "We are thrilled to work alongside the expert team at Libera Bio and continue our mission of accelerating the speed that healing reaches those in need."
"There are many intracellular targets that have been elusive so far to conventional treatments and that specifically designed antibodies may address efficiently. We are delighted to work with EVQLV that brings strong molecular biology background and state-of-the-art technology to design such novel antibodies. We are looking forward to creating new options for cancer patients with unmet needs", added Olivier Jarry, Co-Founder and CEO of Libera Bio.