Science Spotlight: Lectin-based bispecifics for tumor-specific targeting

A team from the University of California Irvine, led by GlyTR Therapeutics Inc. co-founders Raymond Zhou and Michael Demetriou, developed lectin-based bispecifics that can target carbohydrate antigens on tumors. Due to the way lectins recognize glycans, this new class of bispecifics may be able to avoid much of the on-target, off-cancer toxicity risk that plagues conventional antibody therapies.

The recognition of glycans by lectins relies on the overall density of the target glycan on the cell surface, not just its presence. This creates selectivity for both the specific ligand and tissues where the glycan is abundant. ...