Enables the prevention and treatment of dengue by avoiding the challenge posed by Antibody-Dependent Enhancement.
Background :
Dengue virus is one of the most widespread vector-borne viral pathogens in the world. Nearly 400 million dengue virus infections occur each year, resulting in approximately 20,000 deaths. In addition, dengue-associated illness comprises an annual global economic burden of around $9 billion USD. While dengue is rare in the continental U.S., warming patterns across the Southern U.S. are expanding the range of mosquito species capable of transmitting the virus. There is currently no FDA-approved dengue vaccine for use in individuals who have not experienced a previous dengue virus infection, or any approved monoclonal antibody therapy for the prevention or treatment of acute dengue.
Technology Overview :
This Upstate Medical University technology overcomes a major challenge in dengue prevention and treatment: Antibody-Dependent Enhancement (ADE). This phenomenon causes IgG isotype antibodies that recognize dengue virus to enhance infection in individuals with waning or incomplete antiviral immunity. Our technology circumvents this challenge by 1) providing immediate immunity to infection by providing dengue virus neutralizing antibodies, and 2) utilizing an IgA1 antibody construct that will preserve antibody function while being incapable of facilitating ADE like IgG antibodies. This not only provides immediate protection against dengue infection in individuals who have not had dengue before, but also reduces the risk of developing severe disease in individuals with preexisting/suboptimal dengue immunity.
Advantages :
Applications : There are several potential applications for this product:
Intellectual Property Summary : Patent application submitted, Provisional patent, US Provisional Filed, 63/235,325
Stage of Development : Technology Readiness Level (TRL): 3 - Experimental proof of concept.
Licensing Status : This technology is available for licensing and will be of value to any company or institution involved in preventing and treating dengue. This includes:
About the Research Foundation for the State University of New York:
As the nation's largest research foundation supporting the nation's largest public university system, The Research Foundation for SUNY powers research and innovation to address today's most pressing problems and shape a better future for generations to come. The Research Foundations supports SUNY researchers leading the way globally in AI for the public good, quantum technologies, next-generation semiconductors, biotech and medicine, energy and climate solutions, and more. The Research Foundation for SUNY is a private, nonprofit educational corporation that is tax-exempt under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 501(c)(3). To learn more, please visit us online at rfsuny.org .
About the State University of New York
The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country’s oldest school of maritime, the state's only college of optometry, 12 Educational Opportunity Centers, over 30 ATTAIN digital literacy labs, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.7 million students across its portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.5 billion in fiscal year 2025, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and annually one in three New Yorkers who earn a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit suny.edu .