Archon Biosciences is a biotech company pioneering computationally designed ‘Antibody Cages’ to unlock powerful therapeutic targets beyond the reach of existing modalities.
Archon directly applies generative protein design to rapidly manufacture Antibody Cages (AbCs), a new class of biologics with unique potency and differentiated biodistribution. AbCs integrate the binding affinity and specificity of antibodies into novel self-assembling nanostructures designed to overcome the most difficult challenges in drug development.
The technology is designed to allow the drugging of previously challenging targets.
The platform leverages AI-driven advances in computational protein design that were recognized by the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their ability to create novel proteins with desired functions. One of this year’s three laureates, University of Washington (UW) Professor of Biochemistry and Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator Dr. David Baker, Ph.D., leads the Institute for Protein Design (IPD), where he co-invented the Archon platform alongside co-founders and former UW Research Faculty and IPD Translational Investigators Dr. Lazarovits and Dr. George Ueda, Ph.D..
Archon directly applies generative protein design to drug development by not only conceiving but readily manufacturing new molecular entities for preclinical investigation. AbC design combines off-the-shelf antibodies and computationally designed binding proteins that self-assemble into exquisitely precise and geometrically defined nanostructures. Based on their unique geometries, AbCs behave in the body and interact with their targets differently than conventional biologics, with much greater control over functional properties such as target engagement and biodistribution.
During manufacturing, antibodies are incorporated into AbCs without the need to modify sequence or alter established production processes. As a result, AbC assembly is massively parallelizable, easily automated and retains the industry-proven binding affinity and specificity of antibodies while enabling rapid exploration of a new geometric design and application space.
Subscribe for alerts on new companies featured on Startups.Bio
View all recently featured startups