UNMET NEED
Biologic therapeutics, specifically antibodies, have demonstrated tremendous potential for treatment of a wide range of cancer types. Antibodies are designed to possess a strong affinity for a particular target, a very desirable characteristic for a drug. However, antibodies must be administered multiple times by injection, due to their relatively short half-lives. Patients must see a doctor for injection every 1-2 weeks for the course of the treatment. There is therefore an unmet need for a delivery platform that increases the half-life of antibodies in order to drastically reduce hospital visits.
PROBLEM SOLVED
The inventors propose a novel biologic delivery method that greatly improves drug half-life. The invention consists of using either erythrocytes or extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) as antibody carrier platforms. Erythrocytes or EVs will be designed to contain high levels of antibodies targeted against a particular tumorigenic protein. Because erythrocytes remain stable in the body for up to 4 months, this novel delivery system would allow for an unprecedented level of sustained biologic drug activity. This new system would pave the way for fewer drug injections and therefore fewer hospital visits. Additionally, because EVs and erythrocytes contain no DNA and do not divide, there is no risk of unwanted turmorigenesis.
STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT
•The inventors have developed a technique that allows for purification of EVs from iPSCs. They have demonstrated an ability to control the EV proteome through manipulation of iPSC protein expression. Work with EVs containing antibodies is forthcoming.
•The authors have developed a technique to control the proteome in erythrocytes through genetic modification of the iPSCs from which they are derived. They have already demonstrated an ability to correct mutated proteins in erythrocytes using this method. Work with erythrocytes containing antibodies is forthcoming.
