Origene_Jan2021_ProperAntibodyDesignKeeps - 19

Proper Antibody Design Keeps Specificity In Mind

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A T cell expressing a bispecific CAR interacting with a cancer cell through CD19 and CD20 antigens

Even while monospecific antibody-based
checkpoint inhibition therapies and CAR T-cell
therapies continue to be improved, bispecific and
multispecific antibodies are shaping up as cancer

antibody development, reducing the risk factors to
patients, and optimizing tumor destruction.

Increasing Selectivity

immunotherapy options that may provide signif-

bsAbs emerged with the technologies developed

icant advantages. At present, companies such as

by two pioneering companies Amgen and

Amunix Operating, Invenra, Glycotope, and Xencor

MacroGenics. Amgen introduced the BiTE platform;

are working independently and in collaboration with

MacroGenics, the DART platform. Despite the avail-

larger pharmaceutical companies, such as Novartis,

ability of such platforms, it can still be a challenge

Daiichi Sankyo, and Roche, to bring bispecific and

to produce bsAbs that incorporate an Fc domain,

higher-order antibodies into the cancer immuno-

suggests John Desjarlais, PhD, senior vice president

therapy market. Fundamentally, their engineered

of research and CSO at Xencor. " If you don't have

expression platforms focus on streamlining novel

an Fc domain, " he says, " you have a very short
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