Engineering for diagnostics and therapeutics

The albumin-binding domain (ABD) originating from streptococcal protein G is mainly known as fusion partner of small protein therapeutics for in vivo half-life extension. We have expanded the utility of this domain by developing a new group of affinity ligands denoted ABD-derived affinity proteins (ADAPTs) where novel specificities have been introduced in addition to the ability to bind albumin.

Furthermore, we have shown that affinity for albumin can be tuned or eradicated depending on application. The clinical potential of ADAPT targeting the cancer biomarker HER2 has been investigated in several settings, including a clinicla phase 1 in vivo imaging study that gives early, specific dtat with high contrast, as shown in the picture below, Further, the binder has, in a therapeutic studies in mice, been shown to efficiently target cancer cell