Kenta’s technology for the generation and selection of an advanced class of fully human monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) combines the advantages of classical hybridoma technology with a unique specific heteromyeloma fusion cell line.
Not all antigens require the same type of immune reaction, and therefore our immune system has developed a set of different antibody-isotypes with very specific characteristics. Kenta's MabIgX® technology of generating human hybridomas from human blood lymphocytes allows the isolation of all isotypes. For example, Kenta has isolated and cultured human hybridomas secreting antigen specific antibodies of IgM, IgG, IgA, and IgE isotypes. All of those antibodies retain their effector function, which is an important factor in the regulation of an effective immune reaction in the human body.
Depending on the pathogen, the human immune system utilises different isotypes of antibodies. In order to prevent infections with viruses, high affinity IgG antibodies are far more efficient in neutralising viruses and preventing infections. In contrast gram-negative bacteria are most efficiently attacked with IgM antibodies targeting the bacterial surface polysaccharides. Bound IgM antibodies activate the human complement system, which leads to the destruction of bacterial cells. At the same time a "flagging" of the bacteria as bad (so called opsonisation) takes place and and ultimately phagocytes will remove the bacteria. As such IgM antibodies not only destroy bacterial cells but also promote the removal of bacterial debris from inflammed tissue, which will speed up healing of the affected tissue.
See here how Kenta's lead product KBPA101, a fully human IgM, works:
Therefore it is useful to isolate antibodies of the proper isotype depending on the disease and the desired reaction of the human immune system to the therapy. Kenta's MabIgX® technology allows direct isolation of the isotype of an antibody that the human immune system utilises to combat the pathogen. Since no genetic engineering and no modifications of the antibody are necessary, the isolated antibodies are the most relevant and most effective antibodies for the specific pathogen.
Kenta's approach of generating hybridomas from human B-cells allows the rapid generation and testing of a variety of therapeutically promising antibodies against a variety of new targets within a short period of time. Overall this approach carries significant reductions in resource requirements and costs during the phase of lead antibody identification and validation. With MabIgX® technology Kenta is capable of rapidly bringing new antibodies from the bench into clinical development and ultimately to the patients, whereas the traditional approach of humanising murine antibodies requires long time periods for humanisation and construction of expression cell lines.
In addition to increased efficiency in generating new hybridomas and antibodies, the MabIgX® technology does not carry an overhead in licensing fees for patents granted on humanisation techniques and expression systems.
Key competitive advantages of Kenta Biotech's MabIgX® technology and the resulting fully human antibodies:
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Expeditious progress from target identification to Phase I clinical development due to rapid analysis of full-length antibodies for effector-functions.
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High efficacy due to recognition of epitopes relevant for humans.
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Immunologically and medically relevant product due to the possibility of selecting for all relevant immunoglobulin isotypes (e.g. IgG, IgA, IgM).
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Not affected by patents for expression of recombinant proteins and therefore no royalties incurred.
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Superior safety profile and potential for long term and multiple administrations due to low immunogenicity is expected.
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Due to the high affinity and selectivity, it is expected that the Kenta Biotech antibodies will be effective at lower dosages, resulting in a lower cost-of-goods during large scale production.
