Special Report:\u00a0AdAlta, in collaboration with La Trobe University, has made a world-first breakthrough using its i-body\u00ae platform which could provide potential new treatments for malaria. <\/p>\n
Clinical stage drug development company AdAlta (ASX:1AD)<\/strong><\/a> and La Trobe discovered a new i-body\u00ae, believed to be the first ever antibody-like molecule capable of protecting red blood cells and liver cells against invasion by various strains of the malaria parasite.<\/p>\n 1AD says the discovery demonstrates the versatility of its trademarked i-body\u00ae platform, used to discover, and develop next generation protein therapeutics, potentially opening new avenues to malaria treatment.<\/p>\n i-bodies are unique human proteins combining advantages of small molecules for size and stability and antibodies for high affinity and specificity creating new treatment options for certain illnesses.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Malaria is an illness of the red blood cells transmitted through a bite of mosquitoes carrying the infection. If not treated, malaria can occasionally result in a fatal outcome.<\/p>\n According to World Health Organisation\u2019s latest World Malaria Report<\/a> there were 247 million cases of malaria in 2021 and 619,000 deaths.<\/p>\n The report says malaria continues to challenge not just developing countries where it is endemic, but also travellers, aid personnel and military personnel visiting these regions.<\/p>\n In 2023, the US reported the first locally acquired malaria cases in 20 years, while Johns Hopkins University noted that conditions are becoming more favourable for malaria transmission.<\/p>\n Locally acquired cases have been reported in EU since 2021.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 1AD says AMA1 is a malaria protein that is critical to enabling invasion of malaria parasites (primarily Plasmodium falciparum<\/em>) into red blood cells and, at a different stage of their lifecycle, liver cells.<\/p>\n AMA1 is a major vaccine candidate and a target of immunotherapy. However, a key challenge in developing therapeutics or vaccines against AMA1 is the high degree of variability of parts of the AMA1 protein from strain to strain and over time.<\/p>\n To date there has been no AMA1 antibody developed that both recognises all strains of Plasmodium<\/em> and is a strong inhibitor of invasion.<\/p>\n 1AD says through a long-term collaboration with the La Trobe University laboratory of Professor Mick Foley, who is also 1AD\u2019s founding chief scientist, challenges with the AMA1 protein have been overcome.<\/p>\n The company says i-bodies that bind with high affinity to a region of AMA1 that is conserved or constant across all Plasmodium<\/em> strains has been discovered.<\/p>\n In in vitro<\/em> studies, multiple plasmodium strains have been shown to bind the lead i-body equally or more tightly than the natural receptor of AMA1.<\/p>\n Further, the lead i-body was shown to inhibit multiple strains from invading human red blood cells (merozoite stage) and liver cells (sporozoite stage), interrupting the parasite life cycle at two different stages.<\/p>\n The results have been published in pre-print form pending peer review. 1AD has filed new intellectual property protecting this invention.<\/p>\n La Trobe and 1AD are now seeking collaborators and evaluating grant funding opportunities to further explore potential of the malaria discovery.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Foley says the discovery is a world-first outcome, representing the first high potency antibody-like molecule capable of such pan-strain (multi-strain) efficacy.<\/p>\n \u201cWe believe we have delivered a world first here,\u201d Foley says.<\/p>\n He says until now, no antibody-like molecule has combined the ability to bind strongly to multiple strains of malaria parasite with high potency killing.<\/p>\n \u201cThis variability between strains has plagued all previous attempts to produce a single antibody that can inhibit parasite invasion,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen combined with protecting cells from invasion at two different life cycle stages of the parasite, the new i-body confers the real possibility we may be able to bring forward a new approach to treating malaria.\u201d<\/p>\n CEO and managing director Tim Oldham\u00a0the results show the value of the company\u2019s long-standing collaboration with La Trobe University.<\/p>\n \u201cWe congratulate Prof Foley and graduate student Dimuthu Angage on these results,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n \u201cThese outcomes once again demonstrate the versatility and power of the i-body platform to address drug targets and diseases that challenge traditional antibody approaches.<\/p>\n \u201cThis breakthrough finding in malaria is in quite a different target class and therapeutic area from our other programs, adding further value to our intellectual property portfolio and another asset with commercial potential.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The latest breakthrough adds to multiple opportunities opening up for 1AD<\/a> as a milestone 2023 for the company comes to an end.<\/p>\n 1AD\u2019s planned Phase 2 trial of its lead asset AD-214 in\u00a0Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) was recently boosted after its Phase 1 extension clinical study reinforced the safety profile and potential efficacy of the 10 mg\/kg dose.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n 1AD is looking at partnership opportunities for AD-214 to progress to a Phase 2 trial and has been in discussion with a wide range of companies.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n\n \ufeff<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n This article was developed in collaboration with AdAlta, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing. <\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n The post \u2018World first\u2019: AdAlta\u2019s i-body platform a breakthrough for malaria treatment<\/a> appeared first on Stockhead<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Malaria disease burden significant<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Strain variation creates challenges for malaria treatment<\/strong><\/h2>\n
World-first discovery <\/strong><\/h2>\n
Finishing 2023 in strong position<\/strong><\/h2>\n