Antibodies

We recognize the unique challenges of therapeutic antibody development and offer robust screening assays ensuring the best results for your project. Our expertise spans a diverse range of constructs, including antibody fragments (Fab, dAb, scFv), nanobodies, multi-specifics (bispecifics, trispecifics), and Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs).

Many clients, such as , Thabor Therapeutics, provide testimony to the integral role we play in antibody characterization:

"We started to work with Concept Life Science with a small project to characterize our mAbs. Their work has been excellent, both at the scientific and communication level. Thus, we decided to increase the number of tests and are now characterizing systematically all our mAbs using their services. We are now expanding this collaboration to the use their cellular in vitro test. I strongly recommend Concept Life Science to my colleagues working in biotech developing mAbs, they are efficient, good scientist and work remarkably quickly.“

— Stéphanie Beq (R&D Director, Thabor Therapeutics).

By guiding you though model selection, characterization and testing of your antibody our expert scientists allow the best chance of therapeutic success. We offer the below services to help you with your antibody development program:

• Evaluating Antigen Target Expression
• High-Throughout Antibody Screening
• Physiochemical and Structural Characterization
• Epitope Binning and Mapping
• Functional Assessment
• Testing Specificity & Cross-Reactivity

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Evaluating Antigen Target Expression

Low antigen expression can undermine therapeutic effectiveness, delaying progress and leading to wasted time and resources testing antibody candidates in the wrong models.

We provide advanced spatial biology services designed for sensitive and precise detection and quantification of your targets in both normal and disease tissues, using purpose-built algorithms. Beyond tissue analysis, we offer a comprehensive suite of in vitro cell-based models, including 2D and 3D spheroid systems, to evaluate target expression and antibody binding using flow cytometry and immunofluorescence platforms.

By precisely identifying target localization and quantifying antigen levels, we guide the optimal model selection ensuring the best results for therapeutic success.

High-throughout antibody screening

Screening thousands of antibody candidates is both costly and time-consuming. The challenge being to identify not only the strongest binders but also the kinetics behind that binding both quickly and confidently. With our cutting-edge SPR technology, we deliver accurate affinity and kinetic measurements in swiftly saving you time and resources.

Guidance from our expert biophysics team in selecting the optimal assay setup for simple or complex targets provides you with meaningful data to confidently invest in the most promising antibody candidates and drive your program forward efficiently.

Physiochemical and structural characterization

Early-stage antibody candidates often face critical stability and manufacturing challenges. Low thermostability and aggregation issues, amplified by stress factors like temperature changes, pH shifts, and oxidation, can derail even the most promising leads—hindering promising therapeutic antibody development programs.

Our advanced analysis identifies stability and formulation risks early, helping you make informed decisions and avoid costly setbacks. Save time, cut costs, and confidently move your best candidates into development and manufacturing.

Epitope binning and mapping

Antibody efficacy depends on precise target binding. Without epitope insights, you risk limiting diversity or missing key therapeutic functions. Our mapping solutions reveal binding regions early, guiding you to the best candidates for development.

Functional assessment

Many antibody discovery programs face high attrition rates when transitioning from binders to functional candidates. A key challenge is selecting and designing the right in vitro assays to accurately test antibody function. Without the proper assays, programs risk misidentifying candidates with therapeutic potential.

By leveraging our extensive expertise in Neuroscience, Immunology, Immuno-oncology, Oncology, and Liver Biology we generate critical functional data for your antibody therapeutics. We design and execute target-relevant in vitro models using cell lines, iPSC-derived cells, and primary cells of human and rodent origin, tailored to meet your specific project needs.

We offer state-of-the-art technologies and expert guidance to track diverse functional outcomes such as activation marker analysis, single and multiplex immunoassays, gene expression changes, phagocytosis, cell proliferation, and migration, among others.

Testing specificity & cross-reactivity

Off-target binding of antibody candidates can lead to unwanted side effects, increasing clinical risk and potentially terminating programs. Identifying these issues early in the discovery process helps mitigate risk, generate more confident data, and prevent toxic side effects in in vivo and clinical settings.

We offer a broad range of technologies to assess your antibody’s specificity and cross-reactivity. Binding characterization can be performed against your target and, if known, specific off-target proteins using SPR. We can also evaluate binding to closely related targets and homologous targets from different species.

Additionally, similar assessments can be conducted in cell based models using cell lines or healthy tissues, ensuring your antibody does not bind or mediate detrimental effects. Our platforms include flow cytometry, multiplex immunoassays, immunofluorescence, and the Incucyte® Live-Cell Analysis System for comprehensive evaluation.

Effector function studies

Antibody effector functions are essential for therapeutic success, but variability in Fc receptor binding, complement activation, and ADCC can cause inconsistent results and side effects. Early optimization of these functions is critical to selecting the right candidates and reducing development risk.

We offer bespoke in vitro models to evaluate the extent of your antibody’s engagement with the immune system. Our team identifies and sources suitable cell types expressing your target and assesses whether your antibody can activate the complement system, NK cells, and macrophages to mediate CDC, ADCC, and ADCP. We employ tailored approaches and sensitive assays, including microplate-based fluorescence read-outs, flow cytometry, and the Incucyte Live-Cell Analysis System, to characterize your antibody’s effector functions.

Talk to us today to get a clear insight into how CLS can partner with you to advance your antibody therapeutic into the clinic. Our advice is free and could help you accelerate your program whilst reducing your costs. Our typical project timeline is half that of the industry average.