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FORNY20-FORNY2020

KVAL: Tandem IgA-IgG antibodies

Awarded: NOK 0.50 mill.

Project Number:

332862

Project Period:

2021 - 2023

Funding received from:

Organisation:

Location:

Currently approved antibodies are of the IgG type; these antibodies have opened up new treatment options for many different diseases, especially in cancer and autoimmune diseases. Antibodies are also being explored and developed for other indications. IgA antibodies have not yet reached the market, although preclinical data for IgA has demonstrated promising strong cell killing through activation of a subset of immune cells that are not significantly engaged by the traditional IgG antibodies. The TANDEM antibody technology is a novel antibody technology combining the strengths of IgG and IgA antibodies with the potential of stronger killing of pathogenic and diseased cells. During the qualification project we have filed a patent application with broad supportive data. The project has been pitched to investors and pharmaceutical companies, confirming the interest in the technology and contributing to identifying the next steps for further verification of the technology. We have identified appropriate models that make possible further preclinical confirmation of the enhanced effect of the antibody for a relevant target and indication. Follow-on commercialization activities, planned to be funded by a verification grant, will be focused on further verification and de-risking of the technology to support either establishing a new company or executing license agreements with established pharma companies.

The qualification project has allowed us to position and to confirm the commercial potential of the technology. Intellectual property rights have been secured through a patent application. Technical optimization of the antibody design has been done. The platform technology is potentially extremely valuable, however feedback from industry has confirmed that proof of concept results in a relevant model need to be demonstrated for concrete interest. In this project we have identified a relevant target and indication, including the relevant model, for further verification activities and a first target product. This positions the project well for further directed verification activities. The long-term impact of the project could be establishment of a new antibody technology that can boost the efficacy of any antibody where target cell killing is important. The TANDEM technology could, for example, help treating hard-to-kill cancer types where current options are ineffective or lose efficacy due to resistance. Another major impact could be for the treatment of Multi-Drug-Resistant pathogens where resistance prevents IgG antibodies (or small molecules) from working.

Funding scheme:

FORNY20-FORNY2020