Antibody Industry Trends

This report aims to explore the events and trends of the biopharmaceutical industry in Q3 (July, August, September).

A common theme emerging from recent antibody research is the development and validation of advanced diagnostic tools based on antibody detection. Multiple studies highlight the creation of novel biosensors and assays designed to enhance the sensitivity, specificity, and efficiency of detecting antibodies across various diseases.

T cell immunoreceptor with immunoglobulin and ITIM domain (TIGIT) is an immune receptor that plays a key role in suppressing T-cell activation and proliferation. As a newly identified checkpoint, it is highly expressed on various immune cells, including CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, NK cells.

The COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped global health strategies, pushing preventive measures to the forefront of public attention. Now, there is a renewed focus on fortifying defenses against future viral threats and ways to improve hospitalization rates. Here, we will explore the latest advancements in post-pandemic prevention strategies and the broader landscape of public health.

News from the IASLC 2024 World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC24) has provided several updates on the clinical trial space for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with several antibody-based drugs at the forefront. NSCLC is the most common type of lung cancer, accounting for about 85% of all cases.

These past few weeks, several antibody drug startups have progressed from the pre-seed stage to final funding rounds. In the pre-seed stage, the focus is on early research, often funded by founders, grants, or angel investors. As the company progresses to the seed stage, it seeks additional funding to validate its scientific concept and develop initial prototypes, attracting early-stage venture capital.

In August, the US FDA approved Galderma’s Nemluvio (nemolizumab) for adult patients living with prurigo nodularis (PN). Nemluvio is the first approved monoclonal antibody specifically inhibiting the signaling of IL-31, a neuroimmune cytokine that drives multiple disease mechanisms in (PN). Prurigo nodularis is a chronic skin condition that affects approximately 181,000 patients in the United States

Anti-drug antibodies (ADAs) are immune system proteins that can develop in response to therapeutic drugs, particularly biologics like monoclonal antibodies. These biopharmaceuticals have significantly advanced therapies for cancer and autoimmune diseases, but their long-term use can elicit immunogenicity due to repeated administration. The host immune system may recognize epitopes in the biologic drug as foreign, triggering the production of ADAs. This can lead to the formation of drug–ADA immune complexes, which accelerate drug clearance and potentially neutralize the drug's efficacy.

VHH antibodies, also known as nanobodies, are single-domain antibodies that are derived from camelid heavy-chain antibodies. Due to their small size (~ 15 kDa) and diverse applications in bio-derived therapeutics, these antibodies have widespread attention in the research and development community, with some examples below from just this week!

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major global health issue, driven by high levels of immunosuppressive viral antigens, the host immune system's failure to effectively control the virus, and the immunosuppressive environment of the liver. Existing therapies have limited effectiveness in eliminating the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg).

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have revolutionized the landscape of oncology by delivering targeted therapies that minimize damage to healthy cells while maximizing the impact on cancerous tissues. However, researchers and clinicians are now exploring the many therapeutic possibilities of ADCs in treating a variety of non-cancerous conditions such as autoimmune, infectious, neurological, cardiovascular, and metabolic diseases.

This month provided not just one, but two FDA approvals for antibody drugs treating patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH)!