Enabling High-Throughput Functional Characterization of Therapeutic Antibodies

Introduction

The process of drug discovery over the last 50 years has seen momentous change. In the 1950’s, lead molecules were found largely by serendipity through in vivo screening of the chemical diversity available at the time, where subsequently identified candidates were quickly moved through full development to market.

By the 1980’s, with the implementation of systems research and focused screening, discovery developed into a lengthier process involving a deeper understanding of the molecular structures and the associated functional consequences that contribute to the affinity and efficacy of a specific drug compound. In addition, advances in molecular and cell biology allowed for direct study and screening against human receptor targets in more representative and complex environments such as animal cells and tissues. In today’s post-genomic era where development costs are increasingly significant drivers, this process has expanded significantly to include target identification and validation, as well as lead generation and optimization. With the greatest expense involved in a new drug being associated with clinical trials, pressure on the discovery process to identify the lead candidate with the highest likelihood of success has increased considerably. This requires the ability to make increasingl informed decisions about the individual leads at earlier stages.