Cambridge, Mass. — Metaphore Biotechnologies has formed a Scientific Advisory Board to help advance its antibody-design platform and initial pipeline of therapeutic candidates toward clinical development.
The Flagship Pioneering biotechnology company said the board brings together expertise in protein engineering, artificial intelligence and machine learning, immunology, metabolism and biologics development.
Metaphore is developing an integrated experimental and computational platform designed to create antibodies with new biological functions. The platform combines a proprietary experimental data engine with a computational engine that considers mechanisms of action.
While many traditional antibody medicines primarily work by blocking biological activity, Metaphore is designing antibodies intended to activate, regulate and engage biological processes in new ways.
“We are entering an important stage for Metaphore, as our platform begins to translate into therapeutic programs that show what functional antibody design can make possible,” said Anabella Villalobos, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of Metaphore. “This Scientific Advisory Board brings together leaders who understand how to turn breakthrough science into medicines, and their guidance will be invaluable as we continue advancing our platform, pipeline, and long-term vision for antibody-based medicines.”
Anthony Manning, Ph.D., former Chief Scientific Officer of Momenta Pharmaceuticals, will serve as Chairperson of the Scientific Advisory Board. Manning has experience in immunology, biologics and autoimmune disease and contributed to the approval of three drugs for autoimmune conditions. He also helped lead Momenta through its acquisition by Johnson & Johnson.
Other members include Morris Birnbaum, M.D., Ph.D., former Senior Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer of Internal Medicine at Pfizer. Birnbaum has experience in metabolic disease, G protein-coupled receptor biology and the development of treatments for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, diabetes, obesity, heart failure, cachexia and neurodegenerative diseases.
Enoch Huang, Ph.D., former Vice President of Machine Learning and Computational Sciences at Pfizer, brings experience in artificial intelligence and machine-learning strategy, computational biology, protein modeling, structure prediction and biologics optimization.
Ben Lehner, Ph.D., Head of Generative Genomics at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, specializes in deep mutational scanning, relationships between protein sequences and functions, predictive modeling and the mechanisms influencing protein function and genetic variation.
Peter Tessier, Ph.D., Albert M. Mattocks Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chemical Engineering at the University of Michigan, brings expertise in protein engineering, antibody specificity, library design, multispecific medicines, developability modeling and sequence-to-structure mapping.
Metaphore said its pipeline is intended to demonstrate the potential of functional antibody design across different mechanisms, biological targets and diseases. Its programs include antibodies designed for GPCR agonism, biased signaling, engagement of multiple targets, multifunctional activity and selective antagonism.
The company is initially applying the platform to metabolic diseases and immunology.
“Designing antibodies for function requires a different scientific foundation,” Manning said. “Metaphore is taking a unique approach in the field by starting with biology in living systems, building AI/ML models that learn from functional data, and using those insights to design antibodies with unique mechanisms of action. This SAB brings together the right breadth of expertise to help support Metaphore as the company advances its platform, pipeline, and vision for a new generation of antibody-based medicines.”
