Next-Generation Protein and Peptide Therapeutics

Business Insights
August 19, 2011
192 Pages - SKU: RET6506084
License type:
Introduction

The utility of mAb therapeutics is balanced by many drawbacks: they are expensive to produce, have poor tissue penetration, can only be used to target cell-surface proteins or soluble proteins in circulation, and multi-layered intellectual property can deplete profits. This report examines the various alternatives protein and peptide constructs that have been proposed to provide solutions.

Features and benefits
  • Understand the limitations of monoclonal antibodies, how these relate to molecular structure, and which protein alternatives may offer solutions.
  • Discover the most innovative delivery technologies that may broaden the applicability of protein therapeutics.
  • Gain insight into the crucial issue of immunogenicity; understand the regulatory expectations for testing, and the potential options for minimizing.
  • Compare the pros and cons of the next-generation protein therapeutics, and assess which are making progress through the clinic.
  • Identify which companies are working at the cutting edge of protein therapeutic design, and generate ideas for investment and licensing opportunities.
Highlights

The recent sales performance of monoclonal antibody therapeutics, including three launched antibody fragments, has fuelled further innovation in antibody-derived therapeutics. Along with the development of those agents, progress has been made with novel binding proteins and peptides that avoid some of the drawbacks associated with antibodies.

Many collaborations involving large pharma companies are focused on the development of immunoconjugates featuring stable linker systems between an antibody or an antibody fragment and a highly potent drug for use in cancer therapy. These products target well-characterized tumor antigens.

Protein binders based on a scaffold other than that of an antibody have entered clinical trials, and one has recently been approved by the FDA. Agents based on human proteins offer many potential advantages over antibody-derived binders, including absent or lower immunogenicity.

Your key questions answered
  • What advantages could antibody fragments offer and how do the many proprietary technology platforms differ?
  • What lessons have been learned in the development of immunoconjugates, and which companies are leading the way?
  • What are the benefits of engineering non-antibody protein scaffolds, and which binding domains have been exploited to the best effect?
  • What are the most promising strategies being applied to optimizing the properties of synthetic peptides, and which indications are being pursued?
  • Which protein therapeutics are already being developed as part of a collaboration, and which could provide attractive licensing opportunities?