Overview

• Researchers at the Institute of Functional Genomics in Montpellier engineered a llama-derived nanobody capable of penetrating the blood–brain barrier.
• In two mouse models of schizophrenia, a single peripheral dose produced measurable cognitive gains within hours and lasted more than a week.
• The peer-reviewed findings were published July 23 in Nature under the title “Nanobody therapy rescues behavioural deficits of NMDA receptor hypofunction.”
• The research team is now preparing to launch human clinical trials to evaluate the safety and cognitive benefits of this approach.
• Success in patients could establish a new class of nanobody-based neurotherapeutics with applications beyond schizophrenia.