10149702Development of a unique humanized DR5 activating antibody for treating therapy-resistant cancersActiveCollaborative R&DInnovate UK**Targeting DR5: a New Cancer Treatment Strategy** Cancer cells are like rogue agents in the body that don't follow the usual rules. To tackle these dangerous cells, scientists have found a special pathway involving a protein called **Death Receptor 5 (DR5)** (Alternative names: Tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 10B; TNFRSF10B; TRAIL receptor 2; TRAIL-R2; CD262), which can tell cancer cells to self-destruct. The goal of this project is to create a new type of treatment that specifically targets DR5 to trigger the death of cancer cells. This treatment uses an "agonistic antibody", which means it can activate DR5 in a way that encourages cancer cells to die, without harming healthy cells. This selective action could lead to fewer side effects compared to traditional treatments like chemotherapy. **What Makes This Project Special?** Fusion Antibodies and Queen's University Belfast (QUB) have already developed a prototype of this new antibody that stands out from other similar treatments from an MRC CAST studentship. In this project, they aim to refine and test this prototype to ensure it's safe and effective for patient use---a process known as "humanization". **The Plan:** 1\.**Design and refine the antibody** at Fusion Antibodies. 2\.**Test the antibody in preclinical studies** at QUB's Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research. 3\.**Conduct preliminary safety evaluations** to ensure the antibody is safe for human use. The end result will be a well-tested antibody ready for clinical trials. This new treatment option could either be developed further by Fusion Antibodies and QUB or licensed to a pharmaceutical company for widespread use, ultimately benefiting patients with various types of cancer.