Fusing camelid antibodies to toxin derivatives to treat botulism; plus BioNTech applies platform to multiple sclerosis, a molecule that stops axon degeneration and more

Antibody-toxin fusions as botulism treatment
Two groups reported in Science Translational Medicine taking advantage of atoxic botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) derivatives to deliver single-domain antibodies into neurons to treat botulism. A Boston Children’s Hospital group found that intramuscular or intraperitoneal administration of camelid antibodies fused to BoNT derivatives shortened the duration of muscle paralysis and increased survival in mice. Wake Forest and New York University Langone Medical Center scientists showed similar fusion proteins reduced toxic signs of botulism and improved survival in mice, guinea pigs and non-human primates.

BioNTech mRNA vaccine for multiple sclerosis
A team led by BioNTech SE (NASDAQ:BNTX) CEO Ugur Sahin reported in an article in Science that a non-inflammatory nanoparticle-based mRNA vaccine delivering disease-related auto-antigens prevented and ameliorated symptoms and restored motor function in mouse models of MS. They rendered the vaccine non-immunogenic by using 1-methylpseudouridine instead of uridine in the RNA; and demonstrated the vaccine led to higher numbers of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the spleen and reduced effector T cell infiltration into the CNS and demyelination in the spinal cord...