ClariTau
Clear the way to better days
Diya Singh, Sanay Sood, Amanat Gill, Season Wang
Who are we?
At ClariTau, we are dedicated to revolutionizing the treatment of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) through innovative and sustainable biotechnology solutions. Our mission is to enhance the quality of life for individuals affected by PSP by developing advanced, affordable, and eco-friendly therapeutic options.
Progressive Supranuclear Palsy is a debilitating neurodegenerative disorder often misdiagnosed as Parkinson's disease. PSP leads to severe symptoms such as loss of balance, speech difficulties, and paralysis. PSP is caused by an extracellular buildup of Tau proteins, which are used to stabilize brain neurons in the frontal and temporal lobes. When they become present in excess, they cause neurons to break apart, and slowly lead to the death of one’s brain.
In our cure, we harness the power of plant biotechnology to produce therapeutic antibodies, known as plantibodies, in a sustainable and cost-effective manner. By leveraging the capabilities of tobacco plants, we aim to produce the monoclonal antibody UCB0107, which targets the Tau protein responsible for PSP. This innovative approach not only reduces production costs but also minimizes our environmental footprint.
Why PSP?
At ClariTau, we focus on PSP due to its severe and often misdiagnosed nature. Unlike Parkinson’s disease, PSP’s symptoms—such as loss of balance, personality changes, and paralysis—are frequently overlooked, leading to ineffective treatments. With rising diagnoses, particularly in aging populations, there is an urgent need for targeted therapies. By developing sustainable immunotherapy solutions using plant-based systems, we aim to provide accessible, cost-effective treatments that address PSP’s underlying causes, offering hope and improved quality of life for patients worldwide.
Our proposed solution:
We can sustainably combat the Tau protein build-up that causes PSP by producing UCB0107 monoclonal antibodies in tobacco plants.
Study #3:
ZMapp
Typically, mammals are used to produce antibodies, but this is unsustainable due to high resource consumption, cost, production challenges, and contamination risks. ZMapp's success in treating Ebola with plantibodies inspired us to create our antibodies from plants as well.
Study #2:
Bepranemab
All monoclonal antibodies targeting the N-terminal region of tau protein have failed during clinical trials. Therefore, we picked UCB0107 as our antibody gene since it targets the center region of the tau protein which showed more promise during Phase 1 testing.
Study #1:
Gosuranemab
This study was the first monoclonal anti-tau antibody in clinical trials for PSP which is why we decided to use the antibodies solution in our treatment plan against PSP.
If we refer back to our solution statement, we can see the impact of each study:
Benefits of plantibodies:
Plantibodies offer several advantages over traditional mammal-produced antibodies. Using plants like tobacco for antibody production is more sustainable and environmentally friendly, as it requires fewer resources and reduces the ecological footprint compared to raising animals. Plant-based systems also lower the risk of contamination from human and animal pathogens, ensuring safer therapeutic options. Additionally, plants can rapidly produce large quantities of antibodies at a lower cost, making treatments more accessible and affordable. This innovative approach not only enhances production efficiency but also supports global health by providing scalable and eco-friendly solutions.
Future plans:
We are planning to share educational pamphlets and host seminars to raise awareness about Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) and the potential of plant-based immunotherapy. Additionally, we aim to expand our research to include other neurodegenerative diseases and further refine our sustainable production methods.
What you can do:
Educate yourself about Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), share what you learn with others to raise awareness, and consider donating to support our research and development of sustainable treatments. Every bit of support helps us move closer to improving the lives of those affected by PSP.
Meet the team:
Diya Singh
Grade 11 Student
Sanay Sood
Grade 11 Student
Amanat Gill
Grade 10 Student
Season Wang
Grade 11 Student