Combating cancer: Apexigen and rabbit antibodies

Apexigen uses antibodies derived from rabbits to develop therapies for diseases that are difficult to treat. LSIPR found out how it protects its novel technologies.

There’s no shortage of drugs formulated with antibodies derived from people or from mice. But California-based Apexigen has turned elsewhere, developing treatments with antibodies derived from rabbits.

Rituxan (rituximab) and Herceptin (trastuzumab) are just two examples of drugs that use antibodies derived from mice or humans, or humanised antibodies derived from mice. However, rabbits can generate a much broader diversity of antibodies for a target than a mouse, a human or many other species, says Mark Nevins, vice president of business development at Apexigen.

Using a process called gene conversion, rabbits’ immune systems can create antibodies that are generally of a higher quality, and have greater affinity, creating a stronger bond between the antibody and the antigen.