TDP-43 Targeting Antibodies for Diagnosing Neurodegenerative Diseases

A University of Pittsburgh researcher has created antibodies to the protein TDP-43. Development of a novel assay quantifying TDP-43 could assist the early diagnosis of neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer's Disease (AD), Parkinson's Disease (PD), and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), resulting in better outcomes for patients and their loved ones.

Description

Transactive response DNA binding protein 43 (TDP-43) is an RNA/DNA-binding protein involved in the regulation of RNA processing. Aggregates of TDP-43 accumulating in the central nervous system are associated with many neurodegenerative conditions including AD, PD, and ALS, along with other neurodegenerative conditions, is increasingly prevalent due to an aging population and there is a pressing need to develop accurate biomarker assays to assist with diagnosis of TDP-43 related neurodegenerative conditions. These novel antibodies could be used to develop blood- or other biological fluid-based assays for the detection of TDP-43 to assist early diagnosis of neurodegenerative conditions and has the potential to revolutionize treatment and diagnostics options in patients with AD and other TDP-43 related conditions. The panel offers full coverage of the TDP-43 protein sequence, including antibodies specific to pathologically relevant post-translational modifications. It encompasses diverse formats such as Fab, scFv, nanobodies, and multispecific constructs, all exhibiting high-affinity binding, enabling their use in diagnostic assays and potential therapeutic applications.

Applications

• Alzheimer’s disease (AD)
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
• Parkinson's Disease
• Frontotemporal dementia (FTD)
• Limbic predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy (LATE)

Advantages

• Enables early and non-invasive diagnosis of TDP-43 pathology in living patients.
• Facilitates improved monitoring and management of neurodegenerative diseases.
• Offers potential for developing novel therapeutic interventions targeting TDP-43.
• Provides comprehensive and highly specific detection of TDP-43

Invention Readiness

Initial proof-of-concept established for antibody-based method, with ongoing development to enable future clinical applications. Novel antibodies targeting specific regions of the TDP-43 protein covering the full TDP-43 structure have been produced and can be used to develop TDP-43 specific detection assays.

IP Status

Patent Pending