Misfolded Proteins Correlated to Disease Progression
Amorfix Life Sciences announced that in a report published in Nature medicine, researchers demonstrated that misfolded superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) protein is present in nerve tissue from patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease. The article outlines the researchers' findings that in animal models, the misfolded SOD1 was found in motor neurons prior to disease symptoms and was correlated to disease progression. The misfolded SOD1 proteins were detected using specially-designed antibodies, which is one of the approaches Amorfix is using in the development of its ALS therapeutic program. The demonstration of misfolded protein existing in the body during disease progression provides important evidence of how SOD1 misfolding is related to the cause and progression of ALS.
Amorfix is developing treatments for ALS based on these discoveries and has established an alliance with Biogen Idec, which has an option to license the exclusive worldwide rights to Amorfix's technology to develop and commercialize therapeutic products directed against ALS. As described in the Nature Medicine article, antibodies have the potential to be used in diagnosis and drug discovery efforts aimed at identifying chaperone molecules that prevent SOD1 misfolding.
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Antibodies are specialized molecules of our immune system that can specifically recognize and neutralize pathogens or foreign substances. Antibody research in biotech and pharma has recognized this natural defense potential and is working intensively to make it therapeutically useful. From monoclonal antibodies used against cancer or autoimmune diseases to antibody-drug conjugates that specifically transport drugs to disease cells - the possibilities are enormous
Topic world Antibodies
Antibodies are specialized molecules of our immune system that can specifically recognize and neutralize pathogens or foreign substances. Antibody research in biotech and pharma has recognized this natural defense potential and is working intensively to make it therapeutically useful. From monoclonal antibodies used against cancer or autoimmune diseases to antibody-drug conjugates that specifically transport drugs to disease cells - the possibilities are enormous