Here's how the drugs are designed to cross the barrier:
Blood vessel
Blood cell
Brain cell
Endothelial cell
Transferrin
Receptors
Brain
Blood
BBB
ATV
Receptor
Transferrin
BBB
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The brain’s blood vessels are lined with endothelial cells, a key component of the barrier that restricts which molecules enter the brain.
Transferrin is a naturally-occurring protein that carries iron into the brain by binding to transferrin receptors.
Denali's small molecule drugs use ‘transport vehicles’ such as antibodies (ATVs) or enzymes (ETVs) to bind to transferrin receptors, effectively sneaking through drugs that would otherwise be blocked.
If Denali’s drugs are successful, millions of people affected by diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and ALS could have access to effective treatments.
One in three people aged 65 or over in the US die with Alzheimer's or another form of dementia.
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