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Llamas are big pharma’s secret weapon to find new drugs

In recent years, drug developers are advancing llama-derived nanobody candidates, with Sanofi's Cablivi as the first to reach the market; activity is centered near the university where findings originated.
Researchers note the platform can reach tight tissue and sometimes cross the blood-brain barrier, as nanobodies are smaller and simpler than human antibodies, making them easier to engineer, VIB scientists say.
But the field has seen setbacks, including MoonLake's market drop after a negative readout, despite Sanofi's �3.9 billion acquisition of Ablynx.
Shares moved sharply after clinical readouts, with investor markets reacting strongly to positive and negative results, exemplified by Eli Lilly & Co. partnering with Confo Therapeutics and AstraZeneca reporting results.
Researchers say the platform needs time to mature, with industry executives and researchers predicting nanobodies will become mainstream while maintaining llama herds and animal-care practices despite artificial intelligence advances.

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The Fort Morgan Times

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Llamas are big pharma’s secret weapon to find new drugs

By Lisa Pham, Bloomberg News One llama is sprawled on the grass with its neck craned, basking in a patch of sunshine. Another stands on a dirt hill, ears flattened defiantly. A third rushes to greet visitors with a friendly nuzzle. This isn’t a petting zoo. The furry beasts are in Belgium for work. Scientists have discovered the potential of the animals’ antibodies to thwart multiple diseases, and now drug developers are collectively plowing bil…

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