Company: OCEA
Filing Date: 2025-04-08
Form Type: 10-K
Source: 0001641172-25-003155
Chunk: 3375

Company: Ocean Biomedical, Inc.
Filing Date: 2025-04-08
Form: 10-K
Item: Item 1A
Chunk 3375
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 the human body; examples include viruses, bacteria, and tumor
cells.

Antibodies
have a distinct “Y” shape. Each upper arm of the “Y” is uniquely structured to bind to a specific part of a particular
antigen, called an epitope. Once bound to the antigen, an antibody triggers other parts of the immune system to destroy the cells containing
the antigen.

19

Monoclonal
antibodies, or mAbs, are antibodies that are designed and made as therapeutics to bind to specific antigen targets such as those present
in a particular type of cancer cell, virus, or other pathogen. When mAbs are used in this manner they are referred to as targeted therapies.
Therapeutic antibodies can also be engineered to recognize two epitopes simultaneously, making them “bispecific.” Bispecific
antibodies, or BsAbs, can bind directly to surface antigens to kill the cells containing the antigens and they can also help ramp up
the immune system to make it more effective against those cells.

The
Chitinase Biology Behind Our Oncology Project Candidates

Dr.
Elias has focused a significant amount of his research over the last decade on a gene family called the 18 glycosyl hydrolases and its
chitinase and chitinase-like proteins, or CLP. The chitinases and CLP both bind chitin, a polysaccharide that is a major structural component
of the exoskeletons of insects and other arthropods and the cell walls of fungi. The chitinases are true enzymes that cleave chitin into
smaller saccharide units. In contrast, the CLPs bind to but do not cleave chitin.

Chitin,
Chitinases, and Chitinase-Like-Proteins

Chitinase-3-like-1,
or Chi3l1, also known as YKL-40, the prototypic CLP, was initially described as a soluble product of an osteosarcoma cell line and has
since been found in several different laboratory cell lines and animal tissues. In humans, Chi3l1 is found on the cell surface, inside
cells and in the circulation. It plays a major role in tissue injury, inflammation, tissue repair and remodeling responses in healthy
individuals. It is produced by a variety of cells including epithelial cells and macrophages in response to cytokines, lipids, oxidant
injury and other stimuli.