Affibody AB provides novel molecular imaging agents for visualizing HER2-expressing cancer
The authors reported on the development of a HER2-specific Affibody® molecule having an extremely high affinity (22 picomolar). The advantage of this high affinity for the oncogene product HER2 was shown in tumor targeting experiments and the utility of the drug for imaging purposes was demonstrated using gamma camera detection of HER2-expressing xenografted tumors within hours after injection.
Summarizing the results, Dr. Fredrik Nilsson, project manager and corresponding author said: "We have succeeded in engineering extremely high affinity into a small molecule. In molecular imaging, small size is the key to success, as it allows for rapid kinetics and high contrast imaging within hours after injection".
Original publication: A. Orlova et al.; "Tumor Imaging Using a Picomolar Affinity HER2 Binding Affibody® Molecule"; Cancer Research 2006, 66, 4339-4348.
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