UNImAb

UNImAb is a modular bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE) platform developed by researchers at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR). It is designed to overcome the limitations of conventional bispecific antibodies by utilizing a "universal" adapter approach. The UNImAb molecule itself is a bispecific antibody that binds to the CD3 epsilon chain on T cells and a specific peptide tag, typically the E5B9 epitope derived from the human nuclear protein La/SS-B. To target a specific malignancy, a separate "Targeting Module" (TM) is employed, which consists of a tumor-specific binding moiety (such as an scFv) fused to the E5B9 tag. This modularity allows for the flexible retargeting of T cells to various tumor antigens using a single universal effector molecule. Furthermore, the system provides a safety mechanism, as the activity of the T cells can be controlled by the administration and dosage of the short-lived targeting modules. UNImAb has been investigated in preclinical studies for its efficacy in treating both solid tumors and hematological cancers, often in combination with other modalities like radiotherapy.

Other names

UniMab