Abzena Expands AbZelectPRO™ with Next-Gen GS Knockout Platforms for Enhanced Biopharma Solutions

Abzena's Innovative Expansion in Cell Line Development

Abzena, a prominent end-to-end integrated contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), has recently announced a significant enhancement to its AbZelectPRO™ cell line development platform. This enhancement features the introduction of advanced Glutamine Synthetase (GS) knockout systems designed specifically for use in complex biologics and bioconjugates.

The newly launched platforms, known as AbZelectPRO™-KO and AbZelectPRO™-KO+, offer biopharma customers the opportunity to utilize a double knockout antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC+) system for afucosylated proteins. This innovation promises to improve speed, scalability, and flexibility, addressing the unique challenges faced by biopharmaceutical companies today.

In a statement, Campbell Bunce, Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) of Abzena, outlined the company's commitment to fostering robust partnerships with customers by providing innovative and effective solutions. “This addition to our cell line development platform sets a new standard for excellence,” said Bunce, emphasizing the capabilities of these GS knockout lines in supporting therapeutic antibodies and hard-to-express proteins.

The AbZelectPRO™-KO and AbZelectPRO™-KO+ platforms are being offered as either a standalone cell line development service or as part of a fully integrated Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) program. Notably, the pricing structure is designed to be entirely transparent, without any hidden royalty fees. This flexibility allows customers to choose a development strategy that aligns with their specific project goals, timelines, and budgets.

One of the key features of these systems is their incorporation of the Revvity's proprietary CHOSOURCE™ expression technology. This advanced method has been integrated into the AbZelectPRO™ workflow in collaboration with ProteoNic Bioscience's next-generation 2G UNic® vector technology. Together, these innovations significantly enhance the overall productivity and flexibility of the development process, allowing biopharma companies to transition from DNA to research cell banks in a remarkably short time frame of just 10 weeks, achieving titers of up to 10g/L.

Frank Pieper, CEO of ProteoNic, expressed confidence in this collaboration, noting how the 2G UNic® vector technology consistently boosts productivity across various cell lines, further elevating the value proposition of Abzena’s offerings. This not only enhances the performance of CHOSOURCE™ systems but also establishes a higher benchmark for cell line development.

Bryan Kipp, Senior Vice President of Technology Licensing at Revvity, echoed these sentiments by stressing the shared goal of addressing critical industry challenges and the augmented efficiency resulting from the collaboration with Abzena. The emphasis is on delivering greater impact for customers, which is a sentiment shared among various stakeholders in the biopharma landscape.

The CHOSOURCE™ platform, developed by Revvity, has already become the industry standard for cGMP-manufactured CHO-K1-derived suspension cell lines, having been referenced in over 90 Investigational New Drug (IND) filings and featured in four currently approved drugs on the market. The addition of the ADCC+ knockout capability highlights a significant advancement for the development of next-generation therapeutics.

Abzena continues to solidify its position as a leader in the CDMO space, committed to de-risking and streamlining the drug development process for innovative treatments. With research and development facilities strategically located across San Diego, CA, Bristol, PA, and Cambridge, UK, Abzena demonstrates its dedication to advancing biologics and bioconjugates not just for effective treatments but also with an emphasis on ensuring thorough support throughout the entire development lifecycle.

In conclusion, the enhancements to the AbZelectPRO™ platform with the introduction of GS knockout systems mark a pivotal development for Abzena, showcasing their commitment to innovation and the evolving needs of their biopharma partners. This step forward reflects the company's dedication to enabling the rapid progression of new therapies, ultimately benefiting patients in need worldwide.