Engineering monoclonal antibody-based contraception and multipurpose prevention technologies.
Biol Reprod
; 103(2): 275-285, 2020 08 04.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-32607584
ABSTRACT
Sexually transmitted infections are highly prevalent, and over 40% of pregnancies are unplanned. We are producing new antibody-based multipurpose prevention technology products to address these problems and fill an unmet need in female reproductive health. We used a Nicotiana platform to manufacture monoclonal antibodies against two prevalent sexually transmitted pathogens, HIV-1 and HSV-2, and incorporated them into a vaginal film (MB66) for preclinical and Phase 1 clinical testing. These tests are now complete and indicate that MB66 is effective and safe in women. We are now developing an antisperm monoclonal antibody to add contraceptive efficacy to this product. The antisperm antibody, H6-3C4, originally isolated by Shinzo Isojima from the blood of an infertile woman, recognizes a carbohydrate epitope on CD52g, a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored glycoprotein found in abundance on the surface of human sperm. We engineered the antibody for production in Nicotiana; the new antibody which we call "human contraception antibody," effectively agglutinates sperm at concentrations >10 µg/ml and maintains activity under a variety of physiological conditions. We are currently seeking regulatory approval for a Phase 1 clinical trial, which will include safety and "proof of principle" efficacy endpoints. Concurrently, we are working with new antibody production platforms to bring the costs down, innovative antibody designs that may produce more effective second-generation antibodies, and delivery systems to provide extended protection.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Anticoncepción
/
Salud Reproductiva
/
Anticuerpos Monoclonales
Tipo de estudio:
Clinical_trials
Límite:
Female
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Humans
/
Male
Idioma:
En
Año:
2020
Tipo del documento:
Article