The California Institute of Technology (Caltech) has partnered with OMT Therapeutics, a private, California-based biotech company, to use OMT Therapeutics’ fully human nanobody platform, UniRat, for the generation of nanobodies against HIV-1.

Dr. Wim van Schooten, OMT Therapeutics’ chief scientific officer, said, “Dr. Pamela Bjorkman’s group at Caltech is developing strategies to fight HIV infections. HIV specific human nanobodies could provide the unique building blocks for potent anti-HIV therapeutics. This alliance promises to be the first in a series under OMT Therapeutics strategy to partner with academia and industry to develop poly-specific proteins.”

Bjorkman, the Max Delbruk professor of biology and HHMI investigator, said, “OMT Therapeutics’ UniRat is unique resource for generation of fully humanized nanobodies. We look forward to collaborating on anti-HIV nanobodies as new reagents in the fight against HIV/AIDS.”