Breaking Barriers in Chronic Autoimmune Disease Treatment
Our innovative project, backed by Health~Holland’s SME Call, develops a targeted therapy to clear harmful proteins from the blood and halt chronic kidney disease progression. This public-private partnership between Abvion, Sanquin, and Leiden University Medical Center delivers a groundbreaking treatment ready for clinical trials by 2028. Together, we aim to improve patient lives through cutting-edge biotechnology.
Chronic kidney autoimmune diseases affect over 17 million people worldwide, often leading to dialysis or transplantation. This greatly reduces patients’ quality of life and puts strain on our healthcare systems. In the Netherlands, dialysis alone costs €50 million annually, with patients facing significant physical and social challenges. Current treatments only manage symptoms, not root causes, necessitating innovative new solutions to improve patient outcomes and reduce economic burdens.
Our approach uses state-of-the-art antibody technologies to selectively remove disease-causing proteins from the bloodstream while preserving healthy immune functions. By leveraging patient-derived antibodies and optimising them with modern engineering tools, we target the disease at its core. This collaboration uses Abvion’s breakthrough serological discovery platform, Sanquin’s leading expertise in antibody research and engineering, and LUMC’s clinical expertise to create a safe, effective therapy together.
By 2028, we will deliver a validated antibody therapy ready for clinical trials, aiming to delay the need for dialysis by 5-10 years. This will enhance patients’ quality of life and societal participation while saving healthcare costs. Additionally, the project establishes a versatile platform for developing human-derived therapies for many different diseases, promising broad societal and economic benefits. Our work aims to create high-tech jobs and strengthen the Netherlands as a global biotech leader, driving scientific and economic growth.
