- Charles River Laboratories and The Francis Crick Institute have formed a collaboration to accelerate the discovery and development of Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs).
- The integrated approach covers antibody discovery, conjugation, in vitro profiling, and preclinical studies to bring promising candidates to the clinic faster.
Charles River Laboratories and The Francis Crick Institute (Crick) have announced a strategic collaboration focused on Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC) discovery and development. The partnership combines the organisations’ expertise to streamline discovery, characterisation, and preclinical evaluation of next-generation targeted therapies.
The integrated approach encompasses antibody generation, conjugation, in vitro profiling, and preclinical studies. Both organisations will jointly manage the process to reduce timelines and improve efficiency. This collaboration aims to accelerate the delivery of promising ADC candidates to clinical testing.
As part of the initiative, antibody generation will leverage phage display libraries to produce high-affinity, target-specific antibodies. Additionally, Charles River’s Retrogenix™ platform will be used for in vitro profiling to identify off-target interactions early, enhancing safety and therapeutic potential.
“This integrated ADC development agreement represents a powerful synergy between cutting-edge antibody discovery and rigorous safety profiling. Together, we’re enabling the development of smarter, safer therapeutics that are more likely to succeed in the clinic—ultimately supporting the mission of delivering life-changing therapies to patients.”
Justin Bryans, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer at Charles River
David Allen, Director of Translation at the Crick, added that the partnership “marks a powerful convergence of innovation and execution,” emphasising that combining their capabilities will accelerate translation of research discoveries into new treatments at a scale and speed not achievable individually.
