Icosagen, a contract research, development, and manufacturing organisation (CRDMO) specialising in innovative antibody research and production, has announced a strategic partnership with Lead Discovery Center GmbH (LDC), a translational drug discovery organisation. The collaboration aims to discover monoclonal antibody portfolios targeting therapeutically relevant proteins, including a pivotal G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR), which are often challenging to address.

Scope of collaboration

The partnership will leverage Icosagen’s proprietary technology to produce proteins of interest and enhance their display on virus-like particles. These particles will serve as vehicles for the production of high-affinity antibodies. Icosagen will then establish an extensive library to facilitate the selection of high-affinity monoclonal antibodies, which will undergo further analysis at LDC through a streamlined high-throughput screening process.

Professor Mart Ustav, CEO of Icosagen, commented: “Partnering with LDC will further help expand the opportunities for antibody therapeutics, especially in the challenging field of GPCR-targeted

treatments. This will not only highlight our technological expertise but also perfectly aligns with our mission to transform scientific discoveries into life-changing treatments.”

Dr Bert Klebl, CEO and CSO of LDC, added: “We are excited to partner up with Icosagen, a competent and highly experienced player in the field of antibody research. 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.”

Future prospects

The collaboration between Icosagen and LDC is expected to advance the development of targeted therapeutics, potentially revolutionising treatment approaches for various diseases. LDC’s role in transforming early-stage academic projects into innovative pharmaceutical leads and antibodies, coupled with Icosagen’s expertise in antibody discovery, presents a promising outlook for the development of novel therapeutics with significant medical and commercial potential.