PS-targeting biological inhibits tumor growth and virus infection
Invention Summary:
Phosphatidylserine (PS) is a phospholipid that is restricted to the inner plasma membrane in healthy cells but is externalized in apoptotic or stressed cells abundantly present in tumor microenvironment or in sites of virus infection. PS is also present on the surface of enveloped viruses such as influenza, corona and hepatitis B viruses, facilitating virus entry into the cells and immune evasion.
Rutgers scientists have developed unique multifunctional PS-targeting immunobiological that blocks PS-mediated immunosuppression and also deliver an immune-stimulating payload of the interferon (IFN) type I/III-fusion protein. Although type I and III IFNs are mainly appreciated for their antiviral activities, they are pleotropic cytokines that also suppress tumor growth by activating host immune responses. PS-binding domain of Gas6 was used to generate Gas6-IFN-β-IFN-λ fusion protein. The protein has been demonstrated to possess potent anti-tumor activities in breast cancer and melanoma in vivo models and antiviral activities in a mouse model of respiratory influenza A virus infection.
Market Applications:
- Cancer Therapeutics
- Broad-spectrum Multifunctional Antiviral Therapeutics
- Research Tools
Advantages:
- The PS-binding domain allows targeted site-specific IFN delivery
- Multifunctional mechanism of action
- Higher efficacy due to synergistic effects of PS blockage and actions of IFNs
- Tuning the strength of IFN activities to PS concentration
- Ability to target multiple cell types that respond to either type I or type III IFNs
- Piggyback delivery by enveloped viruses to target cells
- Combination of the fast action of type I IFNs with long lasting effects of type III IFNs
- Simplified production and delivery as a single molecule
Intellectual Property & Development Status: Patent pending.
- Patent pending. Available for licensing and/or research collaboration.
