World's First 'Computer-Designed' Cancer Antibodies

Cancer patients are evaluating an antibody-based treatment created on a computer in Israel whose creator ‘trained’ the antibodies to ‘decide’ whether the cells surrounding tumors are healthy or evil. These antibodies will battle tumor-supporting cells while enhancing the capabilities of cells that stop the spread of cancer, if the trial, currently taking place in Australia, proceed as planned.

What are Antibody Therapies

According to its creator, Prof. Yanay Ofran, prior antibody therapies relied on either human or animal antibodies. They are then developed in laboratories and produced in large quantities, although the finished good still has drawbacks from the initial antibodies.

He claimed that when he builds antibodies from the ground up on a computer and produces them from amino acids in a method akin to 3D printing, these restrictions are removed.

“Antibodies are very successful, but the way they are used in medicine today utilizes only a fraction of their capability,” he told The Times of Israel. “Our mission is to make antibodies and seize on the fact they are safe, stable, easy to use and can stay on the shelf for years, to unlock their full ability.”

Ofran, a professor at Bar Ilan University, has published multiple peer-reviewed publications on his approach to computer-aided antibody creation. They underline the new antibodies’ ‘smart’ nature.

As a result, they can assess their environment and respond differently to many cell types rather than performing a particular task, such as combating a single pathogen. They are referred to as ‘nano-robots’ by Ofran.

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New Computer-Designed Antibody

According to him, the brand-new AU-007 antibody therapy is the first computer-designed antibody to begin human trials. It was created using artificial intelligence software at his startup Biolojic Design’s offices in Rehovot, and it is currently being tested by its spin-off company Aulos Bioscience. Currently, Biolojic is developing several additional treatments.

Ofran’s discovery is the product of a time-consuming study method that involved making countless amounts of antibodies and observing their activity in the lab.

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The data on the behavior of the antibodies are analyzed using the artificial intelligence software used by his team. To develop a new antibody that will perform the desired function, we must learn from the observations we make, explained Ofran.

AU-007 employs antibodies that can ‘feel’ or ‘sense’ their surroundings and distinguish between cells that are likely to support or obstruct a tumor based on characteristics on the cell’s surface like cilia, which are protruding antenna-like structures.

“What we are doing is to use the antibody to identify the cells they meet and activate cells that can attack the tumor while stopping cells that help the tumor,” Ofran explained.

Ofran is a direct descendant of a well-known scientist from Israel. Although he is best known for his writing on religion and politics, his grandfather, Professor Yeshayahu Leibowitz, was a pioneer in the disciplines of organic chemistry and neurology in the early years of Israel.

Ofran aspires for his research to alter how scientists view the potential of antibodies. These days, they are typically used to complete a particular purpose, such neutralizing coronavirus. They are ‘one-trick ponies’, in his words.

The potential of AU-007 to stimulate cancer-fighting cells yet have the reverse effect on cells that support cancer serves as an example of how designing antibodies using a computer opens the prospect of giving them multiple functions.

“Instead of just seeking out one environment and reacting always with the same response, we’re producing antibodies that can act conditionally, meaning if the cells appear one way they do ‘x,’ and if they look another way they do ‘y,’” Ofran said.

“This opens up the door to smarter therapeutics that can execute sophisticated plans to cure disease.”

Source-Medindia