Selection & Optimization of Antibody Candidates

Our J.MD^TM suite of technologies analyse and optimize antibody candidates prior to clinical development and enable the lead selection of highly developable and manufacturable candidates.

Assessing developability and manufacturability during the selection process allows:

• shorter timelines with lower development and manufacturing costs
• identification of lead candidates having a better fit to existing manufacturing platforms
• less time spent solving technical issues during process development
• fewer liabilities which could degrade the therapeutic efficacy leading to longer shelf life and improved serum stability

Just - Evotec Biologics harnesses the power of AI and ML, utilizing diverse evaluations to assess and optimize molecules. Our suite of research and development services incorporates Abacus™ and other predictive computational tools, enabling us to improve antibodies for manufacturing and formulation.

• Focus on Abacus Computational Tools:  Our in-house suite of proprietary computational tools, known as Abacus, allows us to predict the best molecules and conditions for development. This cutting-edge technology aids in the selection and optimization of promising candidates, accelerating the drug discovery process.
• Enhanced Antibodies:  We apply antibody engineering techniques to humanize and optimize parental antibody sequences, enhancing their manufacturability and stability. This optimization process ensures the production of high-quality, consistent antibodies for therapeutic use.
• Comprehensive Candidate Evaluation:  Product candidates undergo rigorous evaluation using assays that assess expression, purification, and formulation. This thorough assessment allows us to determine how well a molecule performs in crucial stages of development, ensuring optimal manufacturing outcomes.

Biophysical characterization of antibody variants streamlines development

• Activity & Affinity
• Titer
• Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC)
• Low pH Stability
• Differential Scanning Fluorimetry (DSF)
• Self-interaction nanoparticle spectroscopy (SINS)
• Thermal Ramping
• Protein Solubility
• Chemical Unfolding
• Hydrophobic Interactions
• Polyspecificity

A client brought Just – Evotec Biologics 283 antibody sequences to evaluate using our J.MD^TM Molecular Design toolbox. Our team of experts rank ordered the sequences for developability using our Abacus^TM suite of in silico tools.

The top four sequences were expressed in stable cell lines and a biophysical characterization performed on each using our high-throughput tools. This analysis helped determine the conformational and colloidal stability of the top four variants.

mAbs 1 and 2 were shown to have the best developability profiles and were selected for the cocktail therapy. Both antibodies expressed at a high titer of 4 g/L/d in our perfusion cell culture process, were highly stable and easily formulated. mAbs 3 and 4 were eliminated.

By applying our J.MD^TM suite of technologies, our scientists were able to significantly improve the partner’s antibody development timelines and improve their chance of clinical success by eliminating many of the human-derived antibodies that showed very poor developability profiles.