Leveragen Partners with Cell Signaling Technology to Advance Reagent Antibody Innovation with Proprietary Nanobody Technology

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Leveragen Partners with Cell Signaling Technology to Advance Reagent Antibody Innovation with Proprietary Nanobody Technology

2025-03-25 20:07 Last Updated At：20:31

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar 25, 2025--

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Nanobodies, or single-domain antibodies, are only about 10% the size of traditional antibodies, yet retain high target-binding affinity, exhibit enhanced tissue penetration, and can tackle structurally-challenging targets inaccessible to some full-length antibodies. Leveragen’s Singularity Suite of nanobody mice harnesses cutting-edge genetic engineering technologies to remove competing conventional antibodies and preserve native immunoglobulin gene regulation, maximizing nanobody-specific immune responses and maintaining normal B-cell development. Similar to its flagship Singularity Sapiens platform of fully human single-domain antibodies developed for therapeutic applications, the Singularity Musculus platform is purpose-built to generate mouse-derived nanobodies with superior diversity, affinity, stability, and cost-efficiency—traits critical to developing high-performance reagents for research and diagnostic applications.

“We are excited to begin this partnership with CST, marking a major milestone that underscores our commitment to antibody innovation,” said Dr. Weisheng Chen, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Leveragen Inc. “Our Singularity Musculus platform was developed specifically to meet the growing need for versatile, diverse, and reproducible reagent antibodies. By merging our proprietary Singularity Musculus platform with CST’s renowned expertise in antibody reagents, we aim to raise the bar for nanobody-based tools throughout the life sciences.”

Dr. Roberto Polakiewicz, Chief Scientific Officer at Cell Signaling Technology, commented, “We are delighted to collaborate with Leveragen to explore the Singularity Musculus platform and its potential to advance reagent antibody development for researchers around the world.”

This partnership highlights the growing significance of nanobody-based technologies in areas including basic research, diagnostics, and therapeutic development. With their small molecular footprint, modular monomeric structure, robust binding affinity, and suitability for certain challenging antigens, nanobodies are uniquely positioned for high-throughput screening, precision imaging, and other advanced life science applications. By combining Leveragen’s and CST’s expertise, the collaboration aims to accelerate the creation of next-generation reagent antibodies.

About Leveragen

Leveragen is a genetic engineering company dedicated to transforming antibody discovery and development for research, diagnostics, and therapeutics. Operating exclusively from its Woburn, Massachusetts facility, the company employs advanced genome editing, synthetic biology, and chromosomal engineering technologies to develop next-generation genetic models that accelerate antibody discovery. Leveragen’s proprietary collection of nanobody mice, the Singularity Suite, features Singularity Sapiens, designed to generate fully human single-domain antibodies for developing a broad range of biologic modalities, and Singularity Musculus, engineered to produce mouse-derived single-domain antibodies optimized for high-performance reagent applications. Through strategic collaborations with global pharmaceutical and biotechnology leaders, the company addresses unmet medical needs and accelerates the translation of scientific breakthroughs into practical solutions. For more information, please visit www.leveragen.com.

About Cell Signaling Technology

Cell Signaling Technology (CST), headquartered in Danvers, Massachusetts, is a global leader in the development and production of high-quality research antibodies, reagents, and related technologies. Established in 1999 by scientists committed to furthering cellular and molecular research, CST has earned a reputation for excellence through rigorous validation processes, innovative products, and dedication to reproducibility. Serving academia, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology worldwide, CST provides tools that help researchers investigate complex signaling pathways, uncover disease mechanisms, and accelerate therapeutic discovery. With a focus on quality and customer service, CST remains at the cutting edge of life science innovation. Learn more at www.cellsignal.com.

Vatican's solemn run-up to Easter opens with recovering Pope Francis improving but on the sidelines

2025-04-17 16:04 Last Updated At：16:11

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican on Thursday opened the most solemn period of Holy Week with a recovering Pope Francis officially on the sidelines, as cardinals were designated to take his place presiding over the most important liturgical services leading up to Easter.

The 88-year-old Francis was a no-show at the start of the Holy Thursday Mass in St. Peter's Basilica. But there were unconfirmed reports in the Italian media that he hoped to visit Rome's central prison later in the day to keep an appointment he has maintained throughout his papacy: to commemorate Christ's Last Supper before his crucifixion.

The Vatican declined to confirm or deny the reports, which stressed that any such outing would be private and depend on Francis' condition Thursday. But it also seemed possible, given Francis' emphasis on ministering to prisoners, particularly during the 2025 Holy Year, which both opened and will close with special papal events for inmates.

Francis, who survived a life-threatening bout of double pneumonia this winter, is expected to make some appearances over the coming days, however. He made a surprise cameo at the end of Palm Sunday Mass last weekend and in recent days has made some unannounced visits — including one in which he wasn’t dressed in his papal white cassock — to pray in St. Peter’s Basilica and St. Mary Major basilica across town.

By all indications he is continuing to improve after his five-week hospital stay and is slowly resuming some of his normal activities. In recent outings, he has been seen without the nasal tubes that provide supplemental oxygen and Vatican officials say he is increasingly less reliant on the therapy.

On Wednesday, Francis held his first formal group audience since returning to the Vatican on March 23, meeting with the medical staff of the Gemelli hospital who cared for him during his 38-day stay. Gathered in a Vatican audience hall, Francis thanked the 70-plus doctors, nurses and administrators and asked them for their continued prayers.

“Thank you for everything you did,” Francis said, his voice still labored but seemingly stronger as he continues respiratory and physical therapy.

He gave special thanks to the rector of Gemelli’s affiliated Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Elena Beccalli, whom he praised for her strong leadership. “When women command, things go well,” he said in his longest public remarks since his hospitalization.

Francis has delegated the demanding Holy Week liturgical celebrations to hand-picked cardinals, but the Vatican says the pope himself composed the meditations that will be read aloud by others during the Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) procession on Friday night at Rome’s Colosseum.

The Holy Thursday Mass, for example, during which the oils used in liturgical rituals throughout the year are blessed, was being celebrated by the retired head of the Vatican’s patrimony office, Cardinal Domenico Calcagno. Friday’s solemn commemoration of the crucifixion of Christ was assigned to Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, who heads the Vatican office in charge of eastern rite Catholics. Easter Sunday was assigned to the retired administrator of St. Peter’s, Cardinal Angelo Comastri.

It remains to be seen how Francis will handle Easter Sunday’s traditional “Urbi et Orbi” speech and blessing (Latin for “to the city and the world”). Normally the pope delivers a sometimes lengthy discourse on the state of the world from the loggia of St. Peter’s, and then imparts a special blessing to the faithful in the piazza below. In theory someone else could read the speech while Francis could impart the blessing.

Francis was admitted to Gemelli on Feb. 14 with bronchitis that quickly developed into a life-threatening case of double pneumonia. Upon his release March 23, doctors proscribed two months of convalescence at the Vatican with daily respiratory and physical therapy to improve his breathing and vocal function. With time, they have predicted he will be able to resume his normal activities.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.