Researchers are using a new class of extremely small antibodies named “nanobodies” with all the advantages of the conventional antibodies, but are small, very stable, soluble proteins that are much easier and less expensive to produce than conventional antibodies.

The researchers at VIB, Flanders Interuniversity Institute of Biotechnology have recently begun to evaluate nanobodies as anti-cancer medicines. The first results look promising: in experiments conducted on mice, a tumor with a certain protein on its membrane was successfully counteracted through administration of a nanobody.

To translate these results into a possible application for humans, VIB is collaborating with Ablynx, which has developed nanobodies against 16 different therapeutic targets representing a wide range of diseases in humans. Certain inflammatory diseases (heart and vascular diseases) may be eligible for medical treatment with nanobodies.

VIB, Flanders Interuniversity Institute of Biotechnology news release