A new type of asparaginase to improve cancer treatment
Official title: A novel glutaminase-free mammalian asparaginase with minimized immunogenicity to enable expanded use in cancer therapy
Funded at Enzyme By Design, INC. · NIH-10474449 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a new, safer version of a cancer-fighting enzyme called asparaginase, which could help adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and other cancers by reducing side effects and making the treatment more effective.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Enzyme By Design, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2018 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2022 |
| Award (this year) | $836,804 |
| NIH project number | 5R44CA228622-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-10474449 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, or other cancers like pancreatic, ovarian, or triple-negative breast cancers.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have the aforementioned cancers or who are not intolerant to existing asparaginase treatments may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a safer version of asparaginase, an enzyme that helps treat certain types of cancer by depleting asparagine from the blood. The current treatments can cause significant side effects, especially in adults, limiting their use in various cancers. The new enzyme, derived from guinea pigs, aims to reduce these side effects and improve the drug's effectiveness in treating adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia and other cancers. By minimizing immunogenicity and eliminating unwanted co-activity, this approach seeks to expand the therapeutic applications of asparaginase.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a more effective and safer treatment option for patients with specific types of cancer.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of developing a mammalian-derived asparaginase is innovative, similar strategies have shown promise in reducing side effects in other enzyme therapies.
Where this research is happening
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Enzyme By Design, INC.
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schalk, Amanda M — Enzyme By Design, INC.
- Study coordinator: Schalk, Amanda M
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.