Description:
- Therapeutic/Diagnostic: SARS-CoV-2/Covid-19 and other viruses dependent on GRP78
- GRP78 cell surface positive cancers
- Diagnostic imaging of cancer
Abstract
Researchers at USC have developed mouse hybridoma cell lines against GRP78, and created humanized antibodies that don’t elicit an immune reaction when administered to humans. The recombined “humanized” antibody may be developed as a human therapeutic against a variety of cancers or serve as a monoclonal antibody therapeutic for patients affected by COVID-19 and other viruses dependent on GRP78.
Benefit
- High affinity for GRP78
- Specifically promotes apoptosis in tumor cells, leaving normal cells intact
- Potential treatment for COVID-19 and other viruses dependent on GRP78
Market Application
GRP78 is a stress response protein that is known to play a critical role in cancer cell survival, tumor progression, metastasis and resistance to therapy. Given that GRP78 is expressed on cell surfaces and is now indicated to be involved in viral entry, there is hope that GRP78 can be a potential target for both anti-cancer therapy and viral infections such as by SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses that utilize GRP78 for entry and infection.
Publications
Monoclonal antibody against cell surface GRP78 as a novel agent in suppressing PI3K/AKT signaling, tumor growth, and metastasis. Clin Cancer Res. (2013).
Other
Stage of Development: Proof of concept under investigation in vitro and in mouse tumor models to determine its activity for imaging and tumor efficacy