Heteropolymer Antibodies Enhance Immunity

ETI-211, a heteropolymer (HP) antibody drug candidate targeting methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections, was presented at the annual Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC), held in Washington (DC, USA) in December 2005. Development is in the preclinical stage.

The heteropolymer, developed by Elusys Therapeutics (Pine Brook NJ ,USA), consists of a monoclonal antibody specific to a red blood cell receptor(CR1) that is chemically linked to a second antibody or receptor that binds to a particular pathogen. After administration, the heteroploymer antibody drug rapidly binds target pathogens to red blood cells and facilitates their clearance and destruction via liver macrophages.

Elusys' product portfolio also includes antibody therapies for the treatment of other infectious diseases using heteropolymer antibody chemistry and complement biology. Elusys is also developing single monoclonal antibody therapeutics for the treatment of anthrax toxemia, lupus, and non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Elusys' lead product, AnthimT, a therapeutic for anthrax, is currently in phase 1 development and is a lead candidate for purchase by the U.S. Government under Project Bioshield.

S aureus-related infections are a major health concern in hospitals and communities all over the world. With ever-increasing reports of antibiotic resistance among isolates, these infections pose a serious challenge to the healthcare system. Nosocomial (hospital-acquired) infections can occur in otherwise healthy individuals, although immunocompromised patients or newborns with under-developed immune systems can display an increased susceptibility.




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