A targeted bispecific TGFBR2 antagonist antibody demonstrates cell selectivity and enhanced potency on human fibroblasts
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: Beyond its critical roles in development and tissue homeostasis, TGFβ signaling promotes key aspects of cancer progression and is a primary driver of fibrosis. Although blocking TGFβ signaling has great therapeutic potential for cancer and fibrotic diseases such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), preclinical and clinical studies revealed that non-specific alteration of the pathway can have severe adverse consequences; therefore, inhibiting TGFβ signaling in a cell-type specific manner may avoid systemic toxic effects while preserving potential therapeutic effects. The parasitic helminth Heligmosomoides polygyrus has evolved cell-type-targeted modulators of TGFβ signaling. With insights from the development of other targeted signaling modulators and using the worm proteins as a guide, we sought to develop a human-fibroblast-targeted TGFBR2 antagonist. Here, we report mechanistic insights into the targeted worm TGFBR2 antagonist TGM6 and fusion proteins containing the TGM6 targeting domains. We created a bispecific antibody TGFBR2 antagonist that binds PDGFRA as a targeting receptor and demonstrates cell selectivity and enhanced potency in fibroblasts. Our findings suggest a viable path for developing targeted TGFβ signaling antagonists as therapeutics for cancer and tissue fibrosis.
Institution: Surrozen, Inc. (United States)
Topic: TGF-β signaling in diseases
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7203579107
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