New way to block antibodies that stop AAV gene therapy
Official title: Novel strategy to block AAV neutralizing antibody activity
Funded at Nabgen, INC. · NIH-11392510 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new approach uses a special protein to block antibodies that prevent AAV gene therapies from working in people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Nabgen, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,014,676 |
| NIH project number | 5R42TR004338-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11392510 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients who may be candidates for AAV gene therapies and have neutralizing antibodies against AAV vectors.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without AAV-related immune barriers or those not considering AAV therapy may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This grant supports testing a novel protein called Protein-M to disable antibodies that neutralize AAV gene therapy. The work includes lab experiments and animal studies to see if blocking these antibodies can improve the delivery of AAV-based treatments without changing where the therapy goes in the body. If successful, this could expand who can safely receive AAV therapies and make treatments more effective for patients with genetic disorders. The project focuses on overcoming a key immune barrier to broader use of AAV vectors in humans.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive AAV gene therapies more reliably, potentially benefiting those with genetic diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Prior strategies to evade Nabs have been explored, but this approach aims for a more universal blockade with protein M and shows strong preclinical activity.
Where this research is happening
-
Nabgen, INC.
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Askew, Charles H — Nabgen, INC.
- Study coordinator: Askew, Charles H
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.