NanoAbs: Significant Advantages

Alpaca-derived nanosized antibodies (NanoAbs), also known as VHH-antibodies*, exhibit potential for superior therapies for a wide range of diseases. BiondVax’s lead NanoAb candidate, for treatment of COVID-19, exhibits significant competitive advantages over existing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and oral therapies. Development of additional NanoAbs addressing diseases with large unmet medical needs and attractive commercial opportunities, such as psoriasis and asthma, was initiated by BiondVax’s partners at the Max Planck Institute in late 2021.

 

NanoAb Value Proposition

Multiple crucial advantages compared to monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) & oral therapies

 

Convenient & Flexible

  • Hyper-thermostable = longer shelf life, easier storage & distribution

  • Multiple, easier routes of administration

  • Faster, lower-cost production = accelerated development

  • Reaches smaller targets mAbs cannot reach

  • Validated targets of existing but less convenient therapies

Clinical Benefits

  • Adaptable half life

  • Lower immunogenicity and directly targeted = potentially safer & lower dose

  • Superior specificity & binding affinity can increase efficacy

EMBO journal cover image

“Neutralization of

SARS-CoV-2 by highly potent, hyper-thermostable,

& mutation-tolerant nanobodies”

— Published in The EMBO Journal by our scientific partners at the Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences and University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany.

The lead NanoAb candidates for our COVID-19 program exhibit a strong competitive edge over existing COVID-19 therapies. For example, the NanoAbs exhibit superior affinity to the target, neutralizing the SARS-COV-2 virus, in-vitro, at drug concentrations about 100-times lower than those required by currently commercially available monoclonal antibodies. This may lead to increased efficacy, reduced side effects, and allow production at a lower cost. In addition, the NanoAbs’ small size and hyper-thermostability at 95°C (200°F) potentially enables administration through inhalation and longer shelf life, and potentially avoids the need for enhanced cold chain storage and transport. Together, these attributes are designed to create significant competitive advantages.

 

Leading NanoAb Scientific Collaborators

From the world-renowned Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences and University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany

  • Professor Dr. Dirk Görlich

    Professor and Director at the Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences

    Visit academic website

  • BiondVax’s scientific partners are leaders in designing and optimizing NanoAbs.

    The COVID-19 NanoAbs exhibit >100x stronger neutralization of variants of concern at low concentrations vs leading mAbs (in-vitro data shows neutralization of all COVID variants of concern including Delta, and based on in-silico studies, Omicron); Hyperthermostability to 95°C (200°F); and potential for direct targeting via convenient inhalation administration.

  • Professor Dr. Matthias Dobbelstein

    Max Planck Institute Fellow, Professor and Department Head at the University of Göttingen

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* VHH-antibody is trademarked by ABLYNX N.V., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sanofi, as Nanobody.