DARPins: a new generation of protein therapeutics.
DARPins (designed ankyrin repeat proteins) are a novel class of binding molecules with the potential to overcome limitations of monoclonal antibodies, hence allowing novel therapeutic approaches. DARPins are small, single domain proteins (14 kDa) which can be selected to bind any given target protein with high affinity and specificity. These characteristics make them ideal agonistic, antagonistic or inhibitory drug candidates. Furthermore, DARPins can be engineered to carry various effector functions or combine multiple binding specificities, enabling completely new drug formats. Taken together, DARPins are a prominent member of the next generation of protein therapeutics with the potential to surpass existing antibody drugs.
Stumpp
Michael T
MT
Molecular Partners AG, Grabenstrasse 11a, 8952 Zürich-Schlieren, Switzerland.
Binz
H Kaspar
HK
Amstutz
Patrick
P
D000818:Animals; D017089:Ankyrin Repeat; D017487:Ankyrins / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055808:Drug Discovery; D006801:Humans; D008958:Models, Molecular; D011485:Protein Binding; D015202:Protein Engineering
D017487:Ankyrins