Nanobodies, also known as single-domain antibodies (VHHs), are the smallest naturally occurring antigen-binding fragments derived from the unique heavy-chain-only antibodies found in camelids such as llamas, alpacas, and camels. With a molecular weight of approximately 12–15 kDa, nanobodies are about one-tenth the size of conventional monoclonal antibodies, enabling superior tissue penetration and access to cryptic epitopes that are often inaccessible to larger antibodies.
- Exceptional stability, high solubility, strong binding affinity, and efficient production in microbial expression systems for cost-effective manufacturing.
- Can be engineered into multivalent, multi-specific, or half-life-extended formats with significant potential in therapeutic, diagnostic, and imaging applications.
- Applications include cancer immunotherapy, inflammatory diseases, infectious disease detection, and blood-brain barrier targeting.
- Versatility, robustness, and ease of genetic manipulation position nanobody technology among the most promising next-generation platforms in biopharmaceutical R&D.
Oral cancer program
A panel of bispecific antibodies targeting VEGF and EGFR is being developed for the treatment of oral cancer. Learn more about our cancer program.