We believe that the encapsulation of the therapeutic enzymes in the red blood cells may be able to reduce the potential for allergic reactions and to allow the therapeutic substance to remain in the body longer as compared to non-encapsulated enzymes. Red blood cell encapsulated enzymes may serve as a potential alternative to enzyme replacement therapy for certain rare metabolic diseases, replacing deficient or absent enzyme in order to reduce the pathological levels of the target substrate.
For example, as part of a collaboration with Queen’s University of Canada, we have generated promising results in a preclinical model for Arginase-1 Deficiency using an RBC-encapsulated arginine deiminase (eryadi).