Lead Selection & Optimization
Lead Molecule Selection and Optimization
Lead selection and optimization is a critical process in the identification, selection and optimization of molecules that meet predefined requirements and that can then be progressed to the next step of development. While biologics lead selection mainly involves the screening of lead biological molecules to select those with desired functional and biophysical characteristics, optimization further helps improve these properties.
Octet systems are improving the speed and efficiency of the selection and optimization workflows, with high throughput and easy to develop assays for applications like affinity ranking, epitope binning of large antibody matrices, Fc-receptor binding, glycosylation screening, antibody-antigen specificity, binding characterization, and titer analysis.
Features
Titer Determination on the Octet Platform
Titer and protein concentration determination is a critical process in the development of biologics drug molecules. The active protein concentration can be used to determine the potency of the drug molecule. Octet titer and protein concentration determination are more robust to cell culture and media, making them desirable as replacement for ELISA and HPLC in both upstream and downstream processes.
- Analyze a full 96-well plate of samples for IgG titer in as little as two minutes
- Use crude and unpurified samples
- Automate for walkaway high throughput analysis
Epitope Binning and Cross-Competition Assays
In early drug development, cross-competition studies are necessary to characterize hundreds of antibody clones . Since monoclonal antibodies in different bins bind to distinct antigen epitopes and display diverse functional characteristics, epitope binning studies can increase the likelihood of choosing a lead antibody with the desired biological activity.
Epitope binning studies rely on the sequential binding of two antibodies to an antigen, and are performed using dozens of antibody pairs in cross-competition matrices. The Octet system excels at these large-scale studies due to assay speed, throughput, and exceptional reproducibility.
- Sample plate format allows for the use of crude and non-purified samples
- Automation capable Octet HTX and Red 384 allow for walk away high through-put analysis
Off-Rate Screening on Octet Systems
When screening crude samples with unknown concentrations, off-rate screening is a powerful tool for predicting sample properties. Library screening by ELISA does not enable ranking of antibodies based upon their affinities for an antigen. With the Octet system, clones with high affinities and low off-rates can be rapidly identified and selected for further characterization. Many biotechnology companies utilize the Octet system in automated affinity screening and off-rate screening of positive clones obtained from ELISA-based primary screens.
Kinetic Characterization and Clone Selection
Monitoring the binding of candidate molecules to targets is a critical process in lead molecule selection and can aid in the selection of desirable clones. Octet systems generate highly-precise data on molecular binding affinities, specificities, and association/dissociation rate constants and in a high throughput manner.
- Accurately determine ka, kd, and KD
- Screen up to 96 clones simultaneously in 96 or 384-well plates
- Perform analysis directly in crude samples—no need for sample purification
Fragment Screening
Fragment-based drug design has become an increasingly popular platform for the identification of lead candidates in drug discovery programs. The detection and characterization of fragment binding events is facilitated by sensitive biophysical technologies capable of detecting low affinity interactions of low molecular weight compounds. The Pioneer FE system has the necessary sensitivity and throughput to provide complete fragment screens on libraries of several thousand compounds in just a few weeks per target.
