Opinions expressed by Digital Journal contributors are their own.
In the fight against infectious diseases, such as Prosthetic Joint Infections (PJIs), finding truly effective treatments can be a challenge. Trellis Bioscience, a leading therapeutic antibody company, aims to tackle this issue head-on. Chronic PJIs, where bacteria form protective biofilm layers on artificial joint prostheses, are impossible to treat with antibiotics alone. Trellis Bioscience’s novel antibody, TRL1068, could change the game by removing these layers, offering hope for better PJI treatment and beyond.
The quest to harness the power of antibodies for therapeutic purposes has been a long and arduous journey. From the early days of hybridoma technology in the 1980s to the advent of recombinant antibodies, researchers have recognized the immense potential of human antibodies for combating diseases. However, unlocking this potential has proven to be a significant challenge. Despite decades of research and innovation, effectively harnessing human antibodies, those naturally produced by the human immune system, has been difficult to achieve for a variety of technical reasons, including the immense numbers of antibodies and the brief lifetime of the antibody-producing cells when removed from the body.
Traditional methods of antibody discovery often relied on genetically engineered animals or hybridoma technology (fusion of short-lived antibody-producing cells with long-lived myeloma cells), which did not generate truly native human antibodies. Additionally, identifying antibodies with the desired broad specificity and high efficacy against bacterial biofilm proved to be a daunting task, further impeding progress in the field.
“It’s just been incredibly difficult for decades to harness the human immune system. So when we started Trellis, the idea was to go after that prize in a very sophisticated way. And it ended up that we needed to have collaborations between experts in microscopy and computationally intensive digital imaging, as well as in the biology of the human immune system and in assay miniaturization. And along the way, we discovered patentable aspects that made the technology feasible,” explains Chief Science Officer Larry Kauvar.
Trellis Bioscience’s groundbreaking approach to antibody discovery comes at a crucial time in the fight against antibiotic-resistant infections and the persistent issue of biofilm-related antibiotic resistance. In today’s healthcare environment, traditional antibiotics are struggling against an increasing number of bacterial strains that have developed resistance to many available antibiotics, creating an urgent demand for effective adjunctive treatments that eliminate biofilm and thus dramatically increase the effectiveness of existing antibiotics.
As recognized by the CDC and NIH, biofilm-related antibiotic resistance contributes to about three-quarters of all clinically significant bacterial infections, as is particularly evident in infections like chronic PJI. Bacterial biofilms act as protective barriers, often rendering antibiotics ineffective and allowing infections to persist despite aggressive treatment efforts. Recognizing this significant gap in current strategies, Trellis Bioscience has focused on directly targeting biofilms with its innovative monoclonal antibody therapy, TRL1068.
Leveraging its proprietary CellSpot antibody discovery technology, Trellis Bioscience has identified rare fully human therapeutic monoclonal antibodies sourced directly from individual human donors. The recent achievement of clinical proof-of-concept for TRL1068, demonstrating its effectiveness in reducing biofilm burden in PJIs, validates the utility of Trellis Bioscience’s innovative approach.
As antibiotic-resistant infections become more prevalent, the need for new therapies intensifies. TRL1068, with its unique mechanism and broad effectiveness against nearly all clinically significant bacterial species, shows promise for delivering a qualitative improvement in addressing this persistent and growing demand affecting both quality of life and mortality.
Beyond its initial use for Prosthetic Joint Infections (PJIs), TRL1068 has the potential for treating numerous other bacterial infections, including bloodstream and lung infections, especially in ICU patients. This versatility broadens its market impact to address diverse medical needs.
The economic toll of biofilm-related infections is significant, comprising direct medical costs and lost productivity, as well as reduced quality of life. TRL1068 offers a more efficient treatment option, potentially saving costs for healthcare systems and insurers. Its ability to improve patient outcomes and reduce disease burden signifies a shift in healthcare delivery.
“Bacterial pathogens often rapidly develop resistance to new antibiotics and therefore become decreasingly susceptible to that agent. With the antibody that we’re developing, there’s no mechanism that we have identified that could circumvent the anti-biofilm activity of TRL 1068,” says Chief Medical Officer Anton Leighton. “This feature allows us to include the product in first-line therapies, substantially increasing the market opportunity compared to new antibiotics that are often reserved for use as a last resort due to concerns about resistance development. In contrast, TRL1068’s mode of action on biofilm does not lend itself to resistance development, and its use as concomitant therapy is expected to substantially restore the effectiveness of existing antibiotics.”
At the core of Trellis Bioscience’s mission is a commitment to patient-centered care. TRL1068’s promise lies not only in its efficacy against biofilm-related infections but also in its potential to rapidly restore patient quality of life. By offering a far less invasive as well as potentially more effective treatment alternative, TRL1068 holds the key to reducing patient suffering, restoring mobility, and instilling hope for a healthier future. To learn more, visit trellisbio.com.
