- Icosagen, a CRDMO, announces a strategic partnership with Lead Discovery Center GmbH (LDC) to discover monoclonal antibody portfolios.
- The partnership aims to expand opportunities for antibody therapeutics, especially in the challenging field of GPCR-targeted treatments.
Icosagen, a Contract Research and Development Manufacturing Organisation (CRDMO) based in Estonia, has announced a strategic partnership with the Lead Discovery Center GmbH (LDC), a translational drug discovery organisation. The collaboration, announced on 15 May 2024, is focused on the discovery of monoclonal antibody portfolios targeting therapeutically relevant proteins, including a pivotal G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR), which are often challenging to address.
Antibody-based inhibitors have gained relevance in the field of drug discovery due to their exceptional affinity, selectivity and physicochemical properties. As part of the collaboration, Icosagen will generate, identify, and discover potent antibodies against innovative and therapeutically relevant targets, supplying them to LDC for further development.
Utilising its proprietary technology, Icosagen will produce the proteins of interest and enhance their display on the surface of virus-like particles. These particles serve as vehicles for the production of antibodies with affinity for the targets. Subsequently, an extensive library will be established to facilitate the selection of high-affinity monoclonal antibodies. These antibodies will undergo further analysis at LDC through a streamlined process of high-throughput screening.
“Partnering with LDC will further help expand the opportunities for antibody therapeutics, especially in the challenging field of GPCR-targeted treatments,” said Professor Mart Ustav, CEO of Icosagen. “This will not only highlight our technological expertise but also perfectly aligns with our mission to transform scientific discoveries into life-changing treatments.”
Bert Klebl, CEO and CSO of LDC, also expressed his excitement about the partnership. “This project will greatly benefit from Icosagen’s expertise and state-of-the-art capabilities as we pursue our shared goal: the development of novel therapeutics that can make a meaningful difference in healthcare,” he said.
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