Ossianix, Inc.

Julien Häsler

Julia Lynn Rutkowski

Krzysztof Bartlomiej Wicher

The present invention relates to VNAR single chain antibodies and more particularly, to semi-synthetic VNAR libraries derived from nurse shark which may be used to identify individual clones, nucleic acid molecules and polypeptides which encode binding moieties that specifically bind to a cellular target of interest, thereby altering (e.g., antagonizing) target activity in a cell or mimicking the activity of a native molecule. The present invention thus also relates to compounds and compositions comprising a target specific VNAR binding moiety, methods for preparing them, and diagnostic and therapeutic methods of use relating to regulation, e.g., agonism or antagonism of the selected cellular target or target pathway e.g., to treat and/or prevent a pathological condition, disorder or disease in which it is beneficial to alter, e.g., agonize or augment, antagonize, reduce or eliminate the specific cellular target activity.

Semi-synthetic nurse shark VNAR libraries for making and using selective binding compounds

The present invention relates to peptide antagonists that bind with high specificity and affinity to B-Lymphocyte stimulator ('BAFF'), thereby antagonizing BAFF receptor ('BAFF-R') signaling. The invention more specifically relates to VNAR single chain antibodies derived from nurse shark that bind to BAFF, BAFF antagonist compounds and compositions comprising a BAFF specific VNAR binding moiety, methods for preparing them, diagnostic and therapeutic methods of use relating to in vitro or in vivo B cell depletion, e.g., to treat and/or prevent a pathological condition, disorder or disease in which it is beneficial to kill or deplete B cells, such as in autoimmune diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or multiple sclerosis (MS), and in certain hematological cancers, including lymphomas, leukemias and myelomas.

BAFF selective binding compounds and related methods

The present invention relates to peptides that bind with high specificity and which functionally interact with the transferrin receptor ('TfR') and which may be used in making molecular vehicles that carry biomolecules across membranes, including, e.g., across the blood brain barrier or the gastrointestinal tract. TfR specific binding moieties may also be used alone or as components in specific molecules that target the transferrin/transferrin receptor transport system. The invention relates more specifically to VNAR single chain antibodies derived from nurse shark that bind to TfR, compounds and compositions comprising a TfR specific VNAR binding moiety, methods for preparing them, diagnostic and therapeutic methods of use in vitro or in vivo, e.g., to diagnose, treat and/or prevent a pathological condition, disorder or disease in which it is beneficial to deliver a heterologous biomolecule across the blood brain barrier by association with a TfR specific VNAR binding moiety. Other uses for TfR specific VNAR binding moieties of the invention include, e.g., regulating the interaction of iron-charged transferrin with TfR (receptor cycling or cell surface presentation), such as may be therapeutic in treatment of certain cancer cells and tumors of various tissue types.

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Hitchin, United Kingdom

Julien Häsler