The Glycomic Revolution
Why the ability to design therapeutics based on glycobiology will make a mark on pharma R&D
| 2 min read | Future
What we asked: “Looking ahead to the next 5–10 years, what will be the key disruptors and/or what can be improved upon in the pharma industry?”
Response from: Michael Tolentino, CIO, Aviceda Therapeutics
“The single change that could dramatically improve the pharma industry will be the ability to design, develop, and commercialize therapeutics based on glycobiology. Glycans represent a major posttranslational modification of cell membranes, proteins, lipids and carbohydrates which serve as an energy source, a structural component of cells and organisms, and – more importantly – as the central signaling modulator of the innate and adaptive immune system.
“Simple sugars and complex sugar patterns cover every living cell and numerous macromolecules, serving as immune identifiers. These sugar coatings can be likened to QRS codes. The immune system has sugar pattern recognizing receptors (QRS code reader) that program the immune fate of cells and direct disposition of macromolecules. Think Amazon warehouse.”
“The glyco-QRScode for inflammatory resolution has been partially cracked by deciphering the binding characteristics of immune resolving receptors called Siglecs,(QRScode reader) a family of receptors differentially expressed on all activated immune cells. These readers recognize unique sialic acid QRS codes that resolve activated immune cells. The complexity of sialic acid patterns combined with the differential expression of Siglecs, represents the sleep or shutdown code for both individual immune cells and the immune system as a whole. Successfully binding these receptors resolves inflammation while allowing for immune homeostatic healing and maintenance functions, like software running in sleep mode that keep your computer running smoothly.”
“Many prevalent debilitating disease conditions result from either a failure to resolve inflammation or a failure of immune clearance. By mimicking these sialic acid sugar patterns(glyco-QRScodes) and presenting them to the immune system appropriately, diseases of immune overactivation can be resolved. Inflammatory resolution and neuroprotection can also be enhanced to regain function in neurodegenerative diseases, such as macular degeneration without immunocompromising side effects”
“The potential of translating this glyco-code into profoundly effective but extremely safe therapies that can precisely modulate the inflammatory system and restore immune healing function has the potential to revolutionize the pharma industry. Understanding the biological role that sugars play in immune modulation and cellular regeneration will accelerate the next era in pharma: the Glycomic Revolution.”
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