Rapid Developability Assessments To Assist Lead Candidate Selection

By Robert Cunningham, Judit Csapo, Emily Mallett, Marta Busse, Marina Leal, Patrick Lynch, Arron Hearn, Erika Kovacs, William McDowell, Rob Holgate*

The poster focuses on rapid developability assessments as a key component in lead candidate selection for drug development. It highlights how Abzena’s Developability Assessment Platform streamlines the early identification and optimization of biologic drug candidates. The process integrates in silico analyses, biophysical characterization, and stability studies to predict and mitigate potential risks, reducing time to clinical trials while improving success rates.

Key Insights:

1. In Silico Approaches: Computational tools assess sequence liabilities, immunogenicity risks, and other potential issues in early stages, allowing targeted mitigation strategies.

2. Biophysical and Stability Characterization:

   • Poly-specificity Testing: Analytical techniques, such as hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC), assess a molecule’s tendency for non-specific interactions.
   • Thermal Stability and Stress Testing: Unfolding studies and stress tests are performed to understand molecule stability across various conditions, ensuring robustness.
   • Acidic pH Stability: Molecule resistance under low pH conditions is evaluated for manufacturability and formulation compatibility.

3. Case Study Highlights: A practical example demonstrates the application of developability assessments, emphasizing how molecular properties, stability profiles, and off-target interactions influence candidate selection.

4. Platform Overview: The DevelopaB2 Platform consolidates multiple parameters — ranging from stability to manufacturability — to prioritize candidates with lower development risks and higher clinical potential.

The poster concludes that incorporating rapid, multidimensional assessments significantly de-risks drug development by enabling data-driven decision-making during candidate selection, advancing the most promising therapeutics efficiently toward clinical trials.