Technology Description

Professor Li at the University of Iowa has developed novel humanized Adipose-Fatty Acid Binding Protein (A-FABP) antibodies. A-FABP has previously been demonstrated to be elevated in the serum of obese and postmenopausal women, promoting breast cancer risk, suggesting that inhibition of A-FABP activity represents a novel method of treating obesity- associated breast cancer. Treatment with the novel anti-A-FABP antibodies has been shown to significantly inhibit breast cancer tumor growth in vivo with no signs of toxicity. Therefore, these novel anti-A-FABP antibodies are a promising treatment for obesity-associated breast cancer as well as other obesity-associated diseases that demonstrate increased A-FABP levels. Additionally, the antibodies may be used as a clinical biomarker to help diagnosis and determine disease progression.

UIRF Case No. 2022-048

Stage of Development

Several humanized A-FABP antibodies have been developed and tested in vivo using multiple tumor and obese mouse models. cGMP production and additional studies underway.

• No commercially available humanized A-FABP antibodies currently available.
• Targets a novel underlying mechanism of dysregulated lipid metabolism-induced disease risk and progression.
• May be used to treat other obesity-associated diseases, including type II diabetes, atherosclerosis, etc.
• Can also be used as a clinical biomarker monitoring disease risk and progression.