– Data represent promising new modalities to reverse autoimmune disease without immunosuppression and eliminate anti-drug antibodies against immunogenic therapies.
BOSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–September 27, 2023–
Grow Biosciences Inc. (“GroBio”), an emerging biotechnology company that is leveraging synthetic biology to expand the amino acid alphabet and fulfill the promise of protein therapeutics, has announced two breakthroughs that represent potential breakthroughs in autoimmune disease. Have presented successful proof of concept results in pre-clinical programs. and immunogenicity at this week’s Discovery on Target conference.
The company’s genomically encoded organism (GRO) platform enables precise placement of non-standard amino acids (NSAAs) within proteins to realize previously unattainable therapeutic capabilities. ProGly™ enables the first programmatic control over NSAAs protein-immune function. Proglial NSAIDs contain glycans that can elicit a defined immune response to the underlying protein.
The prognostic approach to immunotolerization enables reversal of autoimmune disease without systemic immune suppression. Each Proglial NsA contains a glycan-based tolerance signal that re-educates the immune system to recognize the underlying protein as “self” rather than “foreign.” Grobio’s first indication for autoimmune therapy is myasthenia gravis (MG), a rare disease that causes progressive muscle weakness. The company presented data showing that Progli led to profound improvements in a highly translatable animal model of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis, MG. The company further demonstrated that the therapeutic effects were driven by clinically meaningful induction of antigen-specific T regulatory cells.
GRObio also presented data showing that the ProGly protein can inhibit immunogenic responses to therapeutics. The company started with marketing enzyme replacement therapy for a serious metabolic disease. Although initially effective, the enzyme rapidly becomes ineffective in most patients due to the emergence of anti-drug antibodies (ADA) against the enzyme. GRObio used its computational protein design tools and high-throughput robotics to engineer enzyme variants that contain multiple ProGly NSAAs while maintaining full activity in human blood. When tested on animals the Progly enzyme showed a dramatic reduction in ADA compared to commercially available enzymes.
“Releasing patients from immunosuppressive therapies and preventing immunogenic responses to therapies are two of the greatest needs in our field,” said Tracy Lodi, PhD, chief scientific officer of Quail Therapeutics and scientific advisor to GroBio. “The data presented by GroBio represent a step-change in both applications that, if borne out in the clinic, will revolutionize the treatment of patients.”
Daniel J., PhD, Chief Executive Officer of GRO Biosciences “We are very encouraged by the results of these studies that clearly demonstrate both the therapeutic potential and underlying mechanisms of our proGly NSAID,” Mandel said. “With a clear development plan and a defined path to the clinic, we are one step closer to bringing these highly sought-after therapeutic capabilities to the patients who need them.”
About Gro Biosciences
Gro Biosciences (“GroBio”) is leveraging groundbreaking science to expand the amino acid alphabet and realize the promise of protein therapeutics. The company is transforming treatments in a variety of areas, including autoimmune and metabolic diseases, to improve the lives of patients. GRObio is leveraging its platform to advance partnerships and collaborative programs as well as its pipeline of protein therapeutics with unique non-standard amino acid (NSAA) chemistries. The Company’s NSAID therapeutics include previously unattainable capabilities, including precise regulation of the immune system and unprecedented duration of action. GRObio is headquartered in Cambridge, MA.
Find GRObio on LinkedIn, TwitterInstagram, Facebook and on the web grobio.com.
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