Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic joint inflammation and damage, and current treatments don’t work equally well for everyone.
Researchers identified a specific population of inflammatory immune cells in RA joints that express high levels of uPAR (PLAUR). These uPAR-high cells also produce inflammatory molecules such as IL-1β and CXCL8, making them attractive therapeutic targets.
The team developed anti-uPAR antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) to selectively eliminate these harmful cells. The authors then used Fab-ZAP rat (IT-55) to test the internalization capacity of anti-mouse uPAR antibodies. Saporin (PR-01) and Fab-IgG-SAP (IT-67) were used as control.
ADCs carrying BCL-2 inhibitor payloads, selectively killed activated inflammatory monocytes and macrophages while sparing normal, resting immune cells. Treatment also reduced the release of the inflammatory cytokine CXCL8.
Because mouse immune cells express less uPAR, the researchers used an MMAF payload to demonstrate proof of concept in a mouse model. The anti-uPAR–MMAF conjugate reduced inflammatory uPAR-high macrophages by about 39% compared to the control treatment.
Overall, the study shows that targeted ADCs can selectively eliminate disease-causing immune cells, suggesting a promising new therapeutic strategy for RA and other autoimmune or inflammatory diseases.
Okalova J, Alexander JS, Patel SR, Branella GM, Barichello de Quevedo C, Baldwin WH, Prince C, Chandrakasan S, Brown HC, Doering CB, Spencer HT (2026) Antimetabolites synergize with antibody drug conjugate-based non-genotoxic conditioning facilitating hematopoietic stem cell-directed lentiviral gene therapy. Mol Ther Adv doi: 10.1016/j.omta.2026.201780
Objective: To investigate the hypothesis that anti-CD117-sap is not effective as a single non-genotoxic conditioning agent in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs)-directed lentiviral vector gene therapy for hemophilia A due to a lack of deep HSPC depletion in the bone marrow (BM).
Summary: The authors demonstrated how conditioning with non-genotoxic conditioning ADCs, such as Anti-CD117-SAP, causes cycling of residual HSPCs in the BM niche. There is potential of repurposing antimetabolites into these non-genotoxic conditioning regimens when combined with immune suppression to further target ADC-induced cycling HSPCs and augment depletion in the BM prior to HSCT.
Usage: A conjugate with Streptavidin-Saporin and biotinylated CD117 was developed. Mice were conditioned with the conjugate at doses ranging from 0.5 to 1 mg/kg.
We’re highlighting our ZAP antibody internalization kits and our line of secondary antibody saporin conjugates. We have given these products the moniker “ZAP” in place of saporin.
Our ZAP conjugates consist of a variety of secondary antibodies that allow a large number of targeting agents to be screened quickly and cost-efficiently for specificity, functional binding, internalization, and EC50 determination.
The conjugates are constructed using either species-specific secondary antibodies, or streptavidin (for use with biotinylated Targeting Agents), and they are chemically attached to Saporin, a potent plant ribosome-inactivating proteins.
This article by Marquez et al. showcases how our secondary conjugates can be used to screen antibodies and then from that choose the best candidate to create a custom conjugation.
PTGFRN is a cell-surface protein that is upregulated in certain cancer types, including head and neck and, notably, pediatric medulloblastoma, an aggressive cancer with limited therapeutic options. With the selection of the mouse monoclonal antibody 33B7, the authors identified PTGFRN as a potential therapy target, and were able to show that it is internalized by incubation with 33B7.
We’re highlighting our secondary saporin conjugate, Streptavidin-ZAP, which is streptavidinylated saporin. It combines with your biotinylated material to make a targeted toxin.
Unlike a secondary antibody binding to a primary antibody, the bond between streptavidin and biotin is rapid, essentially non-reversible, unaffected by most extremes of pH, organic solvents or denaturing reagents. It is essentially the strongest known noncovalent biological bond between protein and ligand. Streptavidin-ZAP is very modular and works with biotinylated antibodies, peptides, growth factor, aptamers, anything that will recognize a cell surface receptor and can be biotinylated.
This is a publication using a Streptavidin-ZAP reacted with an antibody as the targeting agent.
The authors’ objective was to investigate whether CD206-positive macrophages in the meninges play a role in regulating nociception and pain hypersensitivity. They injected rats intrathecally with conjugate made with biotinylated anti-CD206 reacted with Streptavidin-ZAP and looked at the effects on responses in naïve rats versus ones that received a skin incision, after depletion of CD206+ macrophages.
Their results indicated that depleting CD206+ meningeal macrophages did not regulate basal responses in naïve rats of either sex. However, ablation of these cells after skin injury induced mechanical hypersensitivity in male rats and not in females. Thus, they were able to conclude, that in a sex-dependent manner, CD206-positive meningeal macrophages prevent the spread of pain hypersensitivity after a minor injury.
Babatunde OO, Bibby MG, Atala A, Almeida-Porada G, Porada CD (2026) In utero HSC transplantation for sickle cell disease: A potential therapeutic approach that overcomes complications of current therapies. Prenat Diagn doi: 10.1002/pd.70142 PMID: 41936060
Objective: To examine current evidence and recent advances for treatment of sickle cell disease (SCD).
Summary: Biotinylated anti‐c‐kit/CD117 mAb coupled to a streptavidin‐conjugated saporin has been used to selectively deplete host HSC while preserving the host’s immune system. A single intravenous dose of the anti‐CD45‐saporin ADC enabled > 90% donor (congenic) hematopoietic engraftment and full correction of the SCD phenotype.
Serambeque B, Dias I, Mestre C, Marto CM, Botelho MF, Carvalho MJ, Laranjo M (2026) Photodynamic therapy-based strategies targeted at cancer stem cells: A scoping review. Cancers (Basel) 18(7):1162. doi: 10.3390/cancers18071162 PMID: 41976384
Objective: To examine strategies for targeting cancer stem cells using photodynamic therapy.
Summary: Photochemical internalization (PCI) is a widely adopted approach for targeting surface markers on cancer stem cells. Anti-CD133-SAP was evaluated in colorectal cancer, breast cancer, and melanoma. In CD133high colorectal cancer cells (WiDr), PCI with picomolar concentrations of AC133–saporin completely inhibited viability and colony formation, with no toxicity observed in the absence of light activation. Similar efficacy was observed in CD133+ breast (MDa-MB-231) and CD133high melanoma cells (FMEX-1) but not in CD133− breast cancer cells (MCF7), confirming target specificity. A similar strategy was employed to target CD44 in human cancer cell lines.
Xiang H, Mortenson GP, Lang SB, Jakkaraju S, Chirala A, Zhu Y, Jia M, Wen J, Chen Y, Baghela A, Chen YC, Sze MA, Hegde LG, Zhang-Hoover J, Willingham A, Handa M, Chi A, Baltus GA, Kamath RV, Levesque M, Vollmann EH (2026) uPAR-targeting cytotoxic antibody–drug conjugates selectively deplete proinflammatory myeloid cells for autoimmune indications. Cells 15(9):803. doi: 10.3390/cells15090803
Objective: To explore uPAR as a cell-surface marker to target and eliminate proinflammatory monocytes and macrophages using antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs).
Summary: Using recent scRNA-seq findings from RA patients, the authors identified the urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR), encoded by PLAUR, as a highly expressed cell surface marker on an inflammation-associated IL1B+ proinflammatory myeloid subset. an anti-uPAR mAb conjugated with monomethyl auristatin F (MMAF) was employed to demonstrate selective depletion of uPARhigh-expressing macrophages in a myeloid-rich rodent model.
Usage: Fab-ZAP rat (IT-55) was used to test the internalization capacity of anti-mouse uPAR mAbs. Saporin and Fab-IgG-ZAP were used as control.
Hamakubo S, Komatsu N, Kosai A, Kuroda M, Sawada M, Shimizu R, Ohashi R, Suenaga H, Hamakubo T, Abe T (2026) Enhanced antitumor efficacy of a combination of immunotoxin and photosensitizer under illumination in xenograft mice. Biomedicines 14:573. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines14030573
Objective: To investigate the in vivo therapeutic efficacy of intelligent Targeted Antibody Phototherapy (iTAP), utilizing light as a spatiotemporal trigger to promote the cytoplasmic release of toxins.
Summary: The authors investigated the in vivo therapeutic efficacy of iTAP using an EGFR-targeted IT composed of cetuximab conjugated to saporin (IT-Cmab), administered in combination with the clinically used photodynamic therapy (PDT) photosensitizer NPe6, in a xenograft mouse model. Findings indicate that iTAP represents a promising therapeutic strategy for HNSCC.
Usage: Biotinylated Cmab was mixed with streptavidin-saporin (IT-Cmab). Mice received intraperitoneal IT-Cmab (0.5 mg/kg), followed 72 h later by intravenous NPe6 (5 mg/kg).
Tendler S, De Gregorio R, Balderes P, Michel AL, Hoang TT, Bauer D, Tully KM, Korsen JA, Lorenz IC, Khan AG, Carter L, Vergnolle O, Lebedeva IV, Nyakatura EK, Bodei L, Morris MJ, Poirier JT, Rudin CM, Lewis JS (2026) Next-generation anti-DLL3 radiopharmaceuticals targeting high-grade neuroendocrine lung and prostate cancers. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 123(6):e2505785123. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2505785123 PMID: 41628333
Objective: To report on the development of anti-DLL3 radioimmunoconjugates for use as either a diagnostic imaging tracer or a therapeutic agent. Delta-like ligand 3 (DLL3) is a tumor-selective cell surface protein upregulated in high-grade neuroendocrine tumors, including small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) and neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC).
Summary: The authors generated a panel of human monoclonal antibodies targeting human DLL3 by immunizing transgenic mice engineered with a human immunoglobulin repertoire. Six select candidates were reformatted as human IgG4 anti-DLL3 mAbs.
Usage: NCI-H82 cells were seeded in a 96-well plate and incubated with serial dilutions of tested antibodies, premixed with the Fab–ZAP (IT-48) for 72 h.
Maria NI, Xia Y, Raparia C, Lin K, Martinez S, Yi Z, Zhang W, Aziz M, Wang P, Guerra M, Salmon, J, Sones JL, Arazi A, Hoover P, Davidson A (2026) Pregnancy loss due to early developmental defects in lupus mice expressing human TLR8. bioRxiv 2026.02.07.701591. doi: 10.64898/2026.02.07.701591
Objective: To explore human TLR8 (huTLR8) in anti-phospholipid (APL) antibody-mediated placental injury.
Summary: The authors used a novel mouse model of pregnancy loss in SLE-prone mice expressing huTLR8. Findings indicate huTLR8, likely through myeloid cell activation and cytolytic T cell recruitment, drives placental injury in the context of SLE and APL autoantibodies.
Usage: 8- to 10-week-old Sle1.CD45.1 mice were treated with biotin anti-CD117 and streptavidin-saporin
