The Future of Antibody Research

Invented by Kohler and Milstein in the 1970s, hybridoma technology has transformed biological research and launched the era of antibody-based therapeutics. Close to 100 canonical monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have been approved in the US and elsewhere, and numerous nontraditional antibody-derived therapeutics in alternative formats have reached late development stages and the market. These include bispecific and multispecific antibodies, as well as ADCs.

In ADCs, the mAb future of antibody research binds tumor-associated antigens while the fusion partner binds cytotoxic drugs. This facilitates targeted delivery of cytotoxic agents to tumor cells while minimizing off-target effects in healthy tissues. The first bispecific mAb to reach the market was catumaxomab, which targets EpCAM and CD3.

Custom Rabbit Monoclonal Antibody Production: Why Researchers Prefer Rabbit mAbs

ADCs can be complex to develop because they require high-affinity binding, low immunogenicity in vivo, long half-life and confined biodistribution, as well as potent cytotoxic properties. Fortunately, many of these parameters can be optimised by protein engineering and other approaches. Furthermore, the high success rate of ADC programs compared with small molecule drugs makes them attractive investment opportunities.

Generative AI companies are also tackling the challenge of creating mAbs with specific binding and desirable drug-like properties, such as solubility, metabolic stability and permeability. For example, South Korean AI pioneer Galux uses generative design to create antibodies that bind only to mutated epidermal growth factor receptor proteins found exclusively on cancer cells to minimise off-target effects in cancer immunotherapies. This is a critical step in the development of next-generation mAbs and other antibody-derived therapeutics.