BKNeutrol: immunotherapy against BK virus
Description Therapy
General information
To date, no specific treatment for BK virus has been approved. The only strategy currently used by nephrologists is a balance between reactivation of the BK virus and modulation of immunosuppressive treatment.
Our approach
Specific treatment of BK virus is based on a bi-specific antibody directed against the major BK virus capsid protein VP1 . This bi-specific antibody is capable of neutralizing the two most frequent genotypes, I and IV, representing 95% of reactivation cases. After solid in vitro proof of concept, the next step is the regulatory toxicity assessment in order to begin Phase I clinical trials (absence of a preclinical efficacy model).
Benefits
In the absence of a specific treatment, SPyDiag aims to optimize therapeutic management by proposing a treatment specifically directed against the major capsid protein of the BK virus. Contrary to current practice, specific treatment will enable the immunosuppressive therapy already in place to be maintained, thus avoiding graft rejection. This specific treatment will therefore reduce graft losses and increase graft life.
Further reading
Publications and intellectual property — foundational work on the VP1 capsid protein and SPyDiag patents.