A humanized pro-N-cadherin antibody that can be used for treating and predicting heart failure
Unmet Need
Heart failure is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the developed world. Approximately 50% of the US population over the age of 45 is expected to have preclinical heart failure, and current techniques to identify those who will progress to advanced heart failure are limited. Despite this, heart failure treatment is almost exclusively limited to treating symptoms after onset. There is a need for therapeutics that are more effective at treating heart failure directly rather than alleviating symptoms.
Technology
Duke inventors have developed a humanized antibody that is intended to be used for therapeutic, diagnostic, and prognostic applications related to heart failure. Specifically, the antibody binds to pro-N-cadherin. The researchers have previously observed that defective processing of N-cadherin leads to expression of pro-N-cadherin on myofibroblasts and intercalated discs during heart failure. This antibody has been demonstrated to reverse doxorubicin-induced heart failure in guinea pig studies.
Advantages
- A humanized antibody that could address unmet needs in the heart failure, including as a therapeutic or prognostic (see related Duke technology T-007947)
- More specific than existing therapies so expected to create fewer severe side effects
- Demonstrated reversal of heart failure in animal models