Overview
- In Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, researchers argue that nanobodies—tiny antibody fragments unique to camelids—can reach brain targets that conventional antibodies often miss.
- Preclinical studies cited in the review show mGlu2-targeting nanobodies restored behavior and delivered weeklong cognitive benefits in mice with no detectable toxicity in those experiments.
- The molecules are about one-tenth the size of typical antibodies, exhibit high solubility, and can be engineered precisely, which may reduce off-target effects compared with hydrophobic small-molecule drugs.
- Before any first-in-human trials, the authors call for toxicology, long-term safety, chronic dosing studies, clear PK/PD profiles, stability and folding checks, aggregation control, and clinical-grade formulations.
- The team notes early progress on these translational steps, reporting treatment conditions compatible with chronic use and ongoing work on brain-penetrant candidates supported by French research programs.