Researchers Design a Novel Antibody to Prevent Pathological Thrombosis

Jan, 2021 - By WMR

According to a new research study led by the researchers of Monash University have reported to develop a novel antibody that constrains specific blood-borne protein to avert the formation of clot, or thrombosis, without causing any adverse side effects. Researchers also informed that this engineered antibody detects and inhibit the pathological form of the Von Willebrand Factor (VWF) blood protein. The antibody exhibits potential to hinder pathological thrombosis, which can result in heart attacks and strokes without any impact on normal healthy clotting.

It is evident from various sources that stroke and heart attack are the leading causes of mortality and morbidity, globally. Moreover, researchers also reported that existing anti-thrombotic (anti-clotting) therapies cause severe bleeding complications, as they impede the normal blood clotting, hence current anti-platelet drugs therefore cannot be used in higher doses.

Dr. Westein stated, â€œOur approach was to first identify the biological differences between normal blood clotting and pathological blood clotting, and we found that VWF changes its properties when dangerous blood clots are forming. Next, we engineered an antibody that only detects and blocks this pathological form of VWF and is therefore only active when a blood clot becomes pathological.â€

In this study, researchers studied the properties of current antibodies against VWF and detected optimum properties of each, which would bind and block VWF under extreme blood clotting conditions. Later researchers joined these optimal molecular structures to develop a new antibody, a first-in-class drug candidate exhibiting potential to block dangerous blood clots without any bleeding complications. Researchers also informed that this novel engineered antibody do not interfere with normal blood clotting, hence it can be used at higher and effective dose, in comparison to current antibodies.