Therapeutic antibody slows tumour growths during in-vivo tests

BioCellChallenge has announced its positive results from in-vivo tests of a therapeutic antibody

The results confirm the efficacy of BioCellChallenge’s ImmunoCellin technology (which allows antibodies to pass through cell membranes) and were conducted in 18 animal models from January through July 2015.

They showed that the intracellular delivery of a specific monoclonal antibody directed against the Ras oncoprotein, which is implicated in many cancers, significantly reduces the proliferation of tumor cells.

In all cases the animals’ lives were prolonged by up to 30%, recovery was observed in 33% of cases, no toxicity-related mortality or inflammation was observed in any cases and neither were any abnormal changes in the growth of the animal.

The therapeutic antibody is specific to a given protein. When it is delivered into the cancer cell it blocks the function of the protein and weakens or even leads to the death of the cell.

The lipid-based formulation encapsulates the antibodies making it easier for them to pass through the cell membrane.

Without an appropriate transport mechanism the antibodies are unable to cross the plasma membrane of living cells and reach their intracellular targets.

The formulation and properties of the BioCellChallenge technology help to deliver the antibodies directly into the cytosol of living cells with no specific prior preparation and without the need for chemical modification of the antibodies. Antibody activity is not affected in any way.

Laurent Meunier, founder of BioCellChallenge, said: “So far there is no solution for efficiently transporting antibodies into living cells.

“The existing drugs are largely directed at targets that are on the surface of the cells. Antibodies are proteins that circulate in the blood, remaining outside the cells.

“However in the case of cancers over 90% of the deregulated targets that lead to the disease are inside the cells.

“Therapeutic antibody internalisation offers huge potential by allowing them to reach many new targets.”