No licensed vaccine capable of protecting broad at-risk populations against disease caused by Zika virus or all DENV serotypes
No licensed anti-DENV or anti-ZIKV antiviral or monoclonal antibody therapy
The development of safe and effective DENV and ZIKV countermeasures has been significantly complicated by the fact that the most severe clinical manifestation of both viruses is associated with the presence of virus-specific IgG isotype antibodies.
DENV coopts IgG antibodies during secondary infections to increase the number of infected cells
Epidemiologic evidence and non-human primate studies suggest that maternal/fetal transmission of ZIKV can be significantly enhanced by ZIKV-specific IgG antibodies.
Accordingly, traditional vaccine and monoclonal antibody therapies are poorly suited to address the challenge presented by DENV and ZIKV.
The Azimuth Solution
The goal of Azimuth Biologics is to develop safe and effective monoclonal antibody therapies to treat and prevent DENV and ZIKV infection. To circumvent the risk posed by IgG-based antibodies, our team has developed and optimized a broadly-effective and first-in-class IgA based monoclonal antibody therapy to treat and prevent infection with DENV and ZIKV.
Why IgA?
While most often associated with mucosal immunity,IgA is the second most abundant isotype of antibody found in human blood and exhibits many of the same biologic properties as IgG isotype antibodies
IgA can bind and neutralize pathogens just as effectively as IgG isotype antibodies and can also mediate other immune functions such as Antibody Dependent Cellular Phagocytosis (ADCP).
However, unlike IgG, IgA isotype antibodies CANNOT facilitate antibody-dependent enhancement of DENV-infection and CANNOT cross the placenta in pregnant women
This makes IgA isotype antibodies uniquely and exceptionally well suited for treating or preventing both DENV and ZIKV infections.
