Scientists Are Smuggling Large Drugs Into the Brain—Opening a New World of Possible Therapies
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Summary
Biotech firms are developing molecular shuttles to transport large drugs, such as antibodies and enzymes, across the blood-brain barrier to treat brain diseases.
The shuttle carries the medication directly to the brain with a shot to the arm, rather than the current method which requires a direct injection into the brain, which can be dangerous and leads to side effects.
Potential treatments include gene therapies for neurological disorders that affect the blood-brain barrier, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Hunter syndrome, and cancer, where it could carry cancer-destroying antibodies that target secondary brain cancer in patients with breast cancer.
However, the technology is in its infancy and will require further safety testing and adaptability.
