Houston – October 02, 2026 -- Researchers at Rice University, backed by the Rice Biotech Launch Pad, have developed an implantable device that produced therapeutic monoclonal antibodies continuously for one year across multiple preclinical models, with the platform now advancing toward human trials through biotech company Duracyte.
Implant sustained antibody production for a full year in preclinical testing
The system, detailed in a study published in Science Advances titled "Once-yearly cell-based therapy for sustained and dose-tunable delivery of monoclonal antibodies," uses engineered protein producers (EPPs) enclosed in a modified biomaterial. The retrievable device also let researchers halt treatment or adjust dosing by removing or replacing the implant, addressing the foreign body response -- inflammation and scar tissue buildup -- that typically limits implanted cell therapy performance.
Platform engineered to produce 13 distinct antibodies across three disease areas
The same human cell line was engineered to produce 13 different monoclonal antibodies spanning oncology, autoimmune disease and infectious disease, including ipilimumab, pembrolizumab, adalimumab, 3BNC117 and PGT121. All retained their intended biological activity, according to the study, pointing to a modular delivery approach rather than a single-target therapy.
Duracyte targets 2027 clinical entry for the living pharmacy platform
Duracyte, co-founded by MIT professor Robert S. Langer, is moving the technology toward clinical development, with the published research providing a foundation for further work on safety, biocompatibility and device design. Researchers used human pharmacokinetic modeling to assess clinically relevant antibody levels and demonstrated a minimally invasive device built for dose adjustment and treatment cessation.
Biologics consume 51% of U.S. drug spending despite just 5% of prescriptions
The FDA data cited in the study underscores the cost pressure driving interest in alternative delivery models. A report highlighted by The Wall Street Journal found that 90% of major biologic drugs expected to lose exclusivity over the next decade have no lower-cost competitors in development, a gap the Rice team argues new production approaches could help close.
"Rather than repeatedly manufacturing and delivering a biologic from outside the body, EPPs could produce therapeutic proteins continuously inside the patient," said Omid Veiseh, professor of bioengineering at Rice and corresponding author of the study, comparing the potential cost impact to reusable rockets reducing space travel expenses.
The study was led by co-first authors Cody Fell, Anthony E. Davis and Shalini Pandey of Rice's Department of Bioengineering, with funding from the Gates Foundation and the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Health.