An immune system in a PILL? First synthetic antibodies created that could one day treat cancer and even HIV

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An immune system in a PILL? First synthetic antibodies created that could one day treat cancer and even HIV

Chemists at Yale University have created molecules that mimic antibodies
The synthetic antibodies bind prostate cancer cells and white blood cells
They are a fraction of the size of natural antibodies so can be taken orally
Scientists are working on synthetic antibodies to target other diseases
It is hoped they could lead to new tailor made immunotherapy treatments
By RICHARD GRAY FOR MAILONLINE

It may soon be possible to give your own immune system a helping hand by taking a pill that mimics the actions of antibodies.
Scientists at Yale University have created the first synthetic antibodies that can attach to disease causing cells and help target the body’s immune response to them.
This mimics the action of natural antibodies which bind to diseased cells and bacteria in the blood stream and encourage white blood cells to kill them.

The synthetic antibody created by chemists at Yale University, called SyAM-Ps, targets prostate cancer cells (as illustrated above) before binding white blood cells from the immune system to destroy the diseased cell
The scientists say their synthetic antibodies, which can be stored at room temperature, could provide new and convenient ways of treating diseases like cancer.

Dr David Spiegel, a chemist at Yale University who has been developing the synthetic antibodies, said the molecules can be taken as a pill like painkillers and antibiotics.
His team have already used their molecules to produce a synthetic molecule that attacks prostate cancer.
They hope similar molecules could be used to develop treatments for other forms of cancer, bacterial infections and even HIV.
Dr Spiegel said: ‘Unlike antibodies, our molecules are synthetic organic compounds that are approximately one-twentieth the size of antibodies.
‘They are unlikely to cause unwanted immune reactions due to their structure, are thermally stable, and have the potential to be administered orally, just like traditional, small-molecule drugs.’
Doctors already use antibodies in treatments known as monoclonal antibody therapy.
This is a form of immunotherapy that uses natural antibodies created from cells grown in the laboratory.
However, these antibodies tend to be large molecules that are sensitive to temperature change and so need to be stored carefully.
Due to their size they also need to be administered through an injection.
They work by specifically targeting diseased cells and hyjacking the immune system to destroy these cells.
In the human body, antibodies are Y-shaped proteins that are produced by plasma cells in the blood in their billions.
Each molecule contains structures that bind to unique molecules on the surface of foreign cells, known as antigens, allowing them to identify cells that do not belong in the body…..More Here

 

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