ELECTROCHEMICAL DNA-BASED SENSORS FOR IMMUNOTHERAPY MONITORING

Introduction

During the initial part of the ERC-Consolidator Grant PRO-TOOLKITS, we have successfully demonstrated a novel approach for antibody detection. The platform uses antigen-conjugated synthetic DNA strands to achieve the rapid and inexpensive detection of target antibodies.

Advantages of the Platform

Our platform offers several advantages in comparison to other methods for antibody detection:

• Low-cost
• Single-step
• Rapid

Additionally, it is versatile enough to be used for the detection of Bispecific Antibodies (BsAb).

Market Need

On the basis of interactions with pharmaceutical companies and following a market analysis, we have found that there is a growing need for similar approaches that can allow monitoring of the efficacy of immunotherapies. This is especially true for immunotherapies using BsAb, as there are no standard analytical methods for these targets.

Project Goals

Given these considerations, the goal of this project is to evaluate the commercial potential of our innovative platform for immunotherapy efficacy monitoring, with particular focus on the detection and characterization of BsAb.

Project Activities

During the project, we will:

1. Fully characterize the DNA-based antibody sensor for the detection of a model BsAb (Anti EGFR/Anti HER2 BsAb) in terms of analytical performances (i.e., sensitivity, specificity, stability, etc.) with direct comparison to other used techniques.
2. Prepare a Manufacturing Plan for producing/testing the Ab-switch.
3. Establish an IP strategy for patent filing and maintenance.
4. Determine a business and commercialization planning.