Research and preclinical development
The heart of our antibody discovery platform is Symplex®, which is our proprietary PCR method for cloning all antigen specific antibodies from single sorted B cells purified from animals. Optimized procedures then allow us to express the entire repertoire of full-length antibodies and perform multiparameter screening, which include binding, epitope bin, affinity, function, immunogenicity and quality. Coupled with next generation sequencing this provides us with a six-dimensional property space for each of thousands of antigen specific antibodies from which we can select leads with optimal set of properties.
What are antibodies?
Antibodies are Y-shaped proteins produced by specialized cells of the body’s immune system. Antibodies can identify and bind disease-specific antigens found on bacteria, viruses, and cancer cells. Once attached to the antigen, antibodies can recruit other parts of the immune system to help neutralize the cells containing the antigen. The place on the antigen where the antibody binds is called an epitope. Researchers can design antibodies to target a certain antigen. Antibodies can be made in large amounts known as monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Monoclonal antibodies are a well-established drug class today used to treat many diseases, including cancer.
Immuno-oncology
Immuno-oncology is the study and development of immuno-therapies that use certain parts of a person’s immune system to fight cancer. Immunotherapies target cancer cells that have found ways to use checkpoint molecules to avoid being attacked by the immune system, allowing the cancer to grow.
Immuno-inflammatory diseases
Immuno-inflammatory diseases are conditions where dysregulation in the immune system can cause inflammation that can lead to organ damage or autoimmune diseases.