Startups 

Clear2Cure is an early-stage biotechnology startup spun out from Utrecht University, dedicated to developing therapies for severe viral infections and life-threatening inflammatory disorders. Our platform technology uses small, specialized antibody fragments, known as VHH antibodies, to precisely capture harmful, disease-causing molecules. Our unique antibodies, called Clearbodies®, then guide the unwanted targets into the cell’s natural waste disposal system, the lysosome. The Clearbodies® are llama derived antibodies with two functional “heads”, one binds to pathogenic extracellular molecules and the other targets to a membrane protein (e.g. EGFR, Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor) that is widely expressed in the body on non-immune cells. In vitro studies with HIV proteins and infectious viruses have shown that our Clearbodies® induce the cells to internalize and degrade the harmfull agents.  This method bypasses the entire immune system, thereby also avoiding complicating and often harmful overreactions (like “cytokine storm”). Clearbodies® are particularly well suited for combating pathogens that have evolutionary developed mechanisms to evade immune detection. 

Our technology fits into a rapidly growing field known as Targeted Protein Degradation (TPD), which aims not only to inhibit harmful agents, but to eliminate them entirely from the body.

We have successfully demonstrated our technology in vitro and are currently advancing to in vivo testing as well as establishing collaborations with industry partners. 

The Clear2Cure platform can rapidly eliminate virtually all harmful substances in the circulation for which antibodies can be generated, including (bacterial) toxins, deregulated cytokines, and toxic protein aggregates. With its groundbreaking, adaptable design, Clearbodies® offer unparalleled potential to address diverse targets. While we focus on our core targets, we invite academic and industry partners to collaborate in advancing this transformative technology toward clinical breakthroughs and addressing critical unmet medical needs.