Mimicking Herceptin

Antibody peptidomimetics are not a new concept, although successful examples are rare. But researchers at Pennsylvania State University have developed a small anti-HER2/neu peptide mimetic that they think could challenge Genentech Inc.'s Herceptin antibody to treat breast cancer. Early signs show the mimetic to have several advantages over the antibody, including reduced immunogenicity, higher tissue penetration, and easier manufacture.

Research, published in Nature Biotechnology, describes an exocyclic anti-HER2/neu peptide mimetic (AHNP) that can inhibit the growth of p185HER2/neu-expressing tumors in mice. ...