News & Insights

In 1902, the French filmmaker George Mèliés fascinated audiences with his film, Le Voyage dans la Lune (A Trip to the Moon). One of the film's iconic images is of the moon struck by a rocket carrying men from earth (shown above). A few years later in 1907, German Nobel laureate Paul Ehrlich conceived the idea of a Zauberkugel or “magic bullet” that could selectively target a disease organism. While these concepts might have been considered science fiction at the time, both have become a reality. Man has been to the moon many times. Ehrlich’s vision of a magic bullet has been realized by the development of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) which enable selective delivery of cytotoxic drugs to disease targets. In this post, we’ll look at the therapeutic opportunities offered by ADCs.

The makings of an effective ADC – an antibody-based therapy that targets cancer-causing cells – require a carefully balanced combination of an antibody to the target, a cytotoxic drug, and a linker connecting the two. The known properties and guiding design principles of effective ADC therapy are under almost constant reevaluation, and recent findings suggest this trend will continue. In this post, we describe recent advancements and lessons learned from this emerging class of biologic.

When the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 was first identified, we applied our molecular modeling methods to assess how this new variant would impact the ongoing pandemic. Since we published our initial findings, the ubiquitous nature of Omicron infections, coupled with the publications of several excellent studies, has compelled us to update our last entry on the subject. These new studies may help us make sense of the current situation while possibly predicting where we are headed, keeping in mind that this update is not intended to be comprehensive. 

On November 24, 2021, South Africa reported the identification of a new SARS-CoV-2 variant, B.1.1.529, to the World Health Organization (WHO). On November 26, 2021, the WHO designated B.1.1.529 as a variant of concern (VOC) named Omicron. This new variant features a number of concerning spike protein mutations. As illustrated below, these key mutations, also found in earlier variants, are present at or near sites regulating virus infectivity. In addition, Omicron displays a surprising number of new mutations. Of special interest are mutations occurring in the RBD and S1/S2 domain. The RBD is important for binding to cells, and the S1/S2 is important for processing the virus to enable entry into the cells.

Like our research colleagues across the entire global scientific community, our team here at Antibody Solutions continues to further delve into the complexities of SARS-CoV-2 and its mutations in hopes of further illuminating potential paths for additional discovery work. We presented our most recent findings during the 2021 PEGS Boston Virtual Conference & Expo.

A strategic approach to peptide design yields success

When deciding which antigens to use for an antibody discovery project, there are many available options. Peptides, which have been around for at least 60 years, are one way in.  Other — and, in many cases, newer — available paths include recombinant proteins, engineered cells and DNA coding for the protein. 

If the last year has taught us anything, it’s that major biological threats can emerge seemingly out of nowhere, causing death and disruption on a global scale. We watched the international scientific community combine all its forces to quickly and effectively mount a response to the novel biological threat of SARS-CoV-2. Key to that response was the immunization of animals, enabling the generation of reagent and therapeutic antibodies as well as development of vaccines. It was an accelerated, and very public, demonstration of the power of in vivo antibody generation that has been applied to discover therapies for cancer, autoimmune diseases, and other ailments.

Here at Antibody Solutions, we believe that starting with the best possible input will yield the best possible output. A critical input for any antibody discovery program is the immunogen; i.e., what will be administered to the host animal to raise an antibody response? While it may seem complex, intact cells bearing your target antigen may be the best input. We explore that subject in this blog post through a series of frequently asked questions from our clients.

“Mystery is at the heart of creativity. That, and surprise.”  Julia Cameron

Mutations Found in the South African and UK COVID-19 Virus Strains Improve the Stability of the ACE2-Spike RBD Complex

As we’ve noted in some recent blog posts (here and here, for instance), our team at Antibody Solutions is joining the global scientific community in the collective fight against SARS-CoV-2 and its mutations. That includes both research conducted on behalf of our clients and our own discoveries. 

Editor’s note: Welcome to 2021, and to our first in a year-long series of posts that will explore the essentials in antibody discovery. We’re starting off with a frequently under-appreciated technique for getting to “yes” or “no” faster — target analysis. Next up, in early February, we’ll be talking about fusions. Thanks for reading, and we invite your ideas on what you consider to be “the essentials” of antibody research success.

Examining mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) Protein Receptor Binding Domain (RBD) at the ACE2 receptor S protein interface

Antibody Solutions is doing its part to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, including original research, tool discovery, and participation in in-house and client-sponsored discovery programs. In this new blog series, we examine questions such as: What are the potential targets to treat COVID-19 and its sequelae, and what are the strategies and tools to discover drugs to treat the disease?

In the science shot heard ‘round the world, Pfizer and BioNTech announced Monday that their vaccine candidate (aka “BNT162b2”) appears to be more than 90% effective in preventing SARS-CoV-2 among those without evidence of prior infection. And since that news broke on the same day that the number of confirmed U.S. cases of COVID-19 crossed yet another grim threshold — 10 million infected — it couldn’t have come at a better time.

Antibody Solutions is doing its part to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, including original research, tool discovery, and participation in in-house and client-sponsored discovery programs. In this new blog series, we examine questions such as: What are the potential targets to treat COVID-19 and its sequelae, and what are the strategies and tools to discover drugs to treat the disease?

On July 30th, we had the pleasure of moderating a virtual panel on Antibody Discovery and the Pandemic for the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of Women in Bio (an event I joined via Zoom from our new headquarters in Santa Clara). At the beginning of 2020, our goal here at Antibody Solutions was to host a networking and professional development event on the last Thursday of each month: January was our grand opening . . . February was our inaugural “Bits, Bites and Brews” event . . . and March was, well, you can guess what happened there.

It’s not often that small biotechnology companies pursue basic research into disease mechanisms. However, the serious impact of the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak on our families, friends, and community has prompted us to seek solutions for solving the COVID-19 pandemic. At Antibody Solutions (AS) and Single Cell Technology (SCT), we sought answers to the nature of the virus infection using our tools at hand.

EDITOR'S NOTE: We're thankful to be holding true to the potential we outlined in this original April 19 blog post. As part of a collaboration with Single Cell Technology, we've discovered a potential new path for SARS-CoV-2 vaccine and therapy research. We've published our findings in a new paper, and you can get an overview here (as well as a link to the complete research document).

“It must be noted, however, that a single product is unlikely to meet the currently very substantial medical need, and not all product candidates will be successful in clinical studies. Therefore, many initiatives aimed at developing investigational antibodies are needed.”

— Dr. Janice Reichert, executive director, The Antibody Society

Where We Stand Now: The bottom line up-front

It’s probably safe to assume that—for all the wrong reasons—”coronavirus” will be Merriam-Webster’s word of the year for 2020. 

On January 30, 2020, Antibody Solutions held a celebration to commemorate both of our new expanded facility in Santa Clara, Calif., and our 25th anniversary,  As part of the event, the company's president and co-founder, Dr. John Kenney, delivered a compelling and inspiring keynote address to our valued guests. In addition to recognizing and thanking all of our employees, clients and friends through the years, John offered his perspectives on the growth and progress of Antibody Solutions since our founding in 1995 and shared some "lessons learned" from his career that he believes will guide our success for next 25 years. His remarks are included below. 

Isolating B cells can be a challenging exercise requiring careful planning, precise execution and the right technology. Over the years, the best method that we’ve found to help streamline and improve the efficiency and success of the process is Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting (FACS). 

After a couple weeks of tackling the tsunami of emails, meetings and project updates that greeted me after my two-week “conference marathon” in Boston last month, here is a summary of Discovery on Target 2019. And, like the CAR-TCR Summit the week before, this year’s DOT (#17 in the series) offered a wide range of useful and interesting updates on the latest in antibody research.

You know, it’s true -- there’s no place like home (especially Antibody Solutions’ new home in Santa Clara, California). At the same time, though, I probably would have stayed another week in Boston had there been a third conference that was as chock full of engaging presentations, intriguing research and useful data (plus some very stimulating hallway conversations) as the two back-to-back conferences I attended earlier this month: CAR-TCR Summit 2019 and Discovery on Target 2019.  

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR-T) cell therapy

A growing number of CAR-T cell therapies are being developed and tested in clinical studies as an innovative approach to reprogram the patient’s immune system to attack its own abnormal cells. For treatment of certain cancers, as well as other diseases, this is a huge leap forward. 

Editor’s Note: This is the third and final post in a series on Dr. Oren Beske of ATUM and his climb up Mt. Kilimanjaro in support of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. In an effort to avoid spoiling his inspiring last installment, we’ll just invite you to catch up on Oren’s first and second posts and then jump right in below.

Our thanks and congratulations to Oren and to all of you for supporting this terrific initiative! 

John Kenney
Co-Founder and CEO, Antibody Solutions

Editor’s Note: Here’s the second installment in a blog post series we’re excited to present in conjunction with our friend and colleague Dr. Oren Beske of ATUM. If you missed Oren’s first post on his climb to help the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, you can read it here.

Thanks for continuing this journey with us. Onward and, more importantly, upward!

John Kenney
Co-Founder and CEO, Antibody Solutions

Post-Show Perspectives: Next-Generation CAR and T Cell Therapies
June 18-20, 2019 | Park Central Hotel, San Francisco, Calif. 

A few weeks ago, a group of us from Antibody Solutions headed up the highway from Sunnyvale (our old home) to San Francisco where we attended the “Next-Generation CAR and T Cell Therapies” conference. In short, the event was well worth the investment of time, and we look forward to participating in similar conferences in the future. 

Editor’s Note: We’re proud to present our first in a series of reflections from our friend and colleague, Dr. Oren Beske of ATUM. We think you’ll find the journey he’s on—one that’s both acutely personal yet wholly universal—to be inspiring and thought-provoking. At Antibody Solutions, we share the end goal of our oncology drug development partners and clients: To extend the quality and quantity of life for cancer patients, and, once and for all, to pitch cancer headfirst into the dustbin of medical history. We salute Oren and all those supporting the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (or, in shorthand, “Fred Hutch”). Climb well! 

When you think about the rat IgG production and purification process (especially IgG2a), what words often come to mind? If you’re like most researchers, it’s probably a combination of these: frustration, missed timelines, low purity, and poor recovery.

What do you get when you inject 2,600 participants into more than 400 sessions, 300-plus research posters and more than 150 exhibitors and then put ‘em all next to Boston Harbor for a week?

PepTalk 2019: The Protein Science Week
January 14-18, 2019 | San Diego Hilton Bayfront, San Diego, Calif.

Earlier this month, I had the good fortune to attend the “Keystone Joint Symposia” event in Keystone, Colo. (and yes, it was much colder than at Antibody Solutions’ headquarters in Sunnyvale, Calif.!).The speakers during the sessions had two primary goals: (1) to present the most recent advances in the biology of T cell-dependent B cell responses; and (2) to explore how our understanding of B-T cell interactions influence antibody generation and inform vaccine development.

We are occasionally asked about the success rate of different antibody platforms for drug discovery. There are a variety of technologies available for therapeutic antibody discovery: conventional mice where the Abs are humanized, human Ab transgenic rodents, human Ab synthetic phage and yeast libraries, and others.