Biotech company Likarda has secured a new grant from the Gates Foundation to advance its proprietary Core-Shell Spherification (CSS) system for delivering antibody-secreting cell therapies targeting infectious diseases that disproportionately affect developing countries.
The Kansas City-based company will focus on developing a specialized hydrogel formulation designed to protect genetically modified cells that secrete therapeutic antibodies from being cleared by the human immune system. This protection is crucial for extending the therapeutic window and effectiveness of these cell-based treatments.
"We thank the Gates Foundation for their financial support of this project, which we hope will lead to a long-term therapeutic option for infectious diseases that is versatile enough to meet the needs of patients globally," said Lisa Stehno-Bittel, President and co-founder of Likarda.
Addressing Global Health Challenges
Infectious diseases such as malaria, HIV, and tuberculosis continue to pose significant health burdens in developing regions. Current treatment approaches often require frequent dosing on regular schedules, leading to adherence challenges and reduced therapeutic effectiveness.
Likarda's technology aims to overcome these limitations by creating a delivery system that can maintain therapeutic antibody release for extended periods—potentially 6 to 12 months—from a single administration. This approach could dramatically improve treatment outcomes by eliminating the need for frequent dosing regimens that are difficult to maintain in resource-limited settings.
Innovative Encapsulation Technology
The CSS platform generates microencapsulating hydrogel microspheres with highly tunable properties, including controlled release profiles, long-term durability, and stability across various temperature conditions. These characteristics make the technology particularly suitable for global health applications where cold chain requirements and storage conditions can be challenging.
"Our CSS platform has already been used to encapsulate 20 different cell types, as well as a broad range of other biologics and small molecules," Stehno-Bittel noted. The versatility of the platform has been demonstrated across multiple therapeutic applications.
The hydrogel formulation being developed under this grant will focus specifically on consistently releasing protective antibodies from genetically modified cells while maintaining their viability for extended periods. If the initial development proves successful, the company plans to advance to in vivo testing in rodent models.
Broader Implications for Cell Therapy Delivery
Beyond infectious diseases, Likarda's technology has potential applications across multiple therapeutic areas. The company is positioning its CSS platform as a solution for improving the delivery of cell therapies, biologics, and small molecules for patients with chronic and life-threatening conditions.
The encapsulation technology provides immune protection for therapeutic cells and enables targeted, sustained release of therapeutic agents. This approach could enhance efficacy while reducing off-target effects in treatments for oncology, regenerative medicine, and other disease areas.
The grant represents not only financial support for addressing global health challenges but also validation of Likarda's technological approach. As Stehno-Bittel emphasized, "Beyond the potential to make a significant impact on global public health, this grant gives us the opportunity to demonstrate the breadth of our technology, and its capability to improve the lives of people with a variety of diseases under myriad conditions."
The development of this antibody-secreting cell therapy platform could represent a significant advancement in how infectious diseases are treated in resource-limited settings, potentially transforming episodic treatment approaches into long-term therapeutic solutions.
