The medical science behind Genentech's news on crossing the BBB was explained in greater detail in an article in Science Now, dated May 25, 2011.
The brain has a lining of endothelial cells which form the blood brain barrier. The endothelial cells have a receptor for transferrin - carrier of iron nutrients. "When transferrin binds to a receptor on the blood side of the barrier, the endothelial cell transports it (and its iron cargo) to the other side and spits it out into the brain."
The explanation of the role of endothelial cells caught my attention. The BEN-A phylomer which is referenced in Phylogica's presentation of May 2011 is noted as "preference for brain endothelial cells".
It has already been noted on the thread that BEN-A is receptor mediated i.e. it could feasibly bind to the transferrin receptor. Is the Genentech antibody carried on BEN-A as one of its two arms? The speculation is intriguing.
My original understanding was that Roche and Phylogica would make a joint announcement in relation to an expanded collaboration. To date we have an announcement by Phylogica about granting an option to Roche to licence a specific peptide. Quite possibly we are waiting on Roche to exercise its option.
Science Now quotes William Partridge, a researcher from the University of California. "That someone at Genentech thinks you need to solve the blood brain barrier problem to deliver neurotherapeutics, that is a stunning advance."
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