Addressable enzymes as protein therapeutics

Abstract

Adzymes are ‘addressable enzymes’ containing an address domain that binds to a target molecule, and a catalytic domain that degrades or modifies the target. Adzymes are principally designed for the catalytic degradation of bioactive polypeptides, for example, inflammatory mediators. A well-characterised, functional example of an adzyme contains human mesotrypsin as the catalytic domain in fusion with a TNF-α binding protein. Adzymes represent a new generation of protein therapeutics with significant untapped potential, which warrants additional studies to demonstrate in vivo feasibility.

Keywords::

• catalytic target elimination
• fusion protein
• inflammatory mediator
• mesotrypsin
• TNF-α

Disclosure

M Sahin-Tóth has received a past grant from Compound Therapeutics to generate mesotrypsin mutants.

Patent Details

• Title Adzymes and uses thereof

• Assignee Compound Therapeutics, Inc.

• Inventors Afeyan NB, Lee FD, Das Gupta R, Baynes B, Camphausen R

• Priority date 02/03/2004

• Filing date 02/03/2005

• Publication date 15/09/2005

• Publication no. WO2005085430