BioCentury
ARTICLE | Tools & Techniques

Rinat: Skirting the BBB problem

August 25, 2003 7:00 AM UTC

Using antibodies to address neurological conditions is rare, given the challenge of delivering large protein molecules across the blood brain barrier. Rinat Neuroscience Corp., which last week raised $40 million in a series B venture round, is avoiding the problem by developing its antibodies against peripheral nervous system targets.

A spinout from Genentech Inc., Rinat has about a dozen therapeutic antibodies in research and preclinical development focused primarily on treating pain and neuropathy. According to CEO Ron Eastman, about half of Rinat's antibodies were developed at DNA, which has a minority stake in Rinat and an option to co-develop products developed before the spinout...