Intracellular delivery of antibodies and peptides using a peptide-based technology

Challenge: The popularity of therapeutic proteins has recently increased mostly due to their broad applicability, but the druggable space for biologics is still restricted to extracellular targets. Indeed, the number of potential targets either secreted or with extracellular domains represents only one-third of the proteome, thus significantly restricting attainable pathways. In parallel, intracellular delivery methods are still plagued by inefficiency and limited applicability.

Solution : Feldan Therapeutics developed the Feldan Shuttle, a platform allowing the delivery of biologics in vivo. The Feldan Shuttle is a new peptide family with specific properties including cell membrane permeability to allow the intracellular delivery of active and functional proteins in different organs. In collaboration with Université Laval, the main objective of the project was to study the ability of the platform to deliver intrabodies (intracellular antibodies) and potentially therapeutic peptides inside cells ex vivo and then in vivo. The Feldan Shuttle made very significant progress during the project, by optimizing the platform peptides and demonstrating their stability, resistance to hostile environment, fast and efficient biodistribution of functional cargos, and innocuity after repeated administration.

Achievements/Impact: Within two years only, the Feldan Shuttle technology acquired features critical for in vivo application of its platform to deliver therapeutic compounds intracellularly. The needs of pharmaceutical industry were better comprehended thanks to CQDM’s mentorship program with the active participation of five large industry members.  Feldan Therapeutics expanded its qualified staff and is now ready to bring the peptide-based delivery technology to the clinical stage.