Key points from article :
Alchemab Therapeutics has been awarded a £1.7 million ($2 million) grant from Innovate UK to accelerate the development of a disease-modifying therapy for Huntington’s disease, in collaboration with Medicines Discovery Catapult (MDC). The funding will support preclinical studies as Alchemab progresses its antibody panel toward human trials. This breakthrough approach focuses on harnessing the immune system's natural response, using antibodies derived from resilient individuals to develop treatments for diseases with limited options, like Huntington’s.
Huntington’s disease, a debilitating neurodegenerative condition, currently has no cure or treatment to slow its progression. Alchemab's novel antibody-based therapy aims to change that by potentially halting or slowing the disease's course, offering hope to patients. The grant will help the company demonstrate the safety, efficacy, and manufacturability of the lead antibody, paving the way for clinical trials.
Alchemab’s innovative platform flips traditional drug discovery by starting with patient responses to identify key therapeutic targets. Jane Osbourn, Alchemab's CSO, emphasizes that this patient-guided approach could open up new treatments for hard-to-treat diseases like neurodegeneration and cancer. MDC, with its expertise in preclinical imaging and biomarkers, will assist in refining the therapy, aiming to create a ground-breaking treatment for Huntington’s disease.
