Antibody Optimization May 3-4

The second stage of antibody therapeutic or diagnostic development can sometimes be the most difficult—the optimization. This conference will present methods researchers can apply to make their antibody the best, most functional and least immunogenic it can be.

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THURSDAY, MAY 3

12:00 pm Registration

1:30 Chairperson’s Opening Remarks

H. Kaspar Binz, Ph.D., Vice President & Co-Founder, R & D, Molecular
Partners AG

» 1:40 KEYNOTE PRESENTATION

Industry and Regulatory Experience of the Glycosylation of Monoclonal Antibodies

Kurt A. Brorson Kurt A. Brorson, Ph.D., Division of Monoclonal Antibodies, Office of Biotechnology Products, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration (biography)

2:10 High-Throughput Analysis of Concentration-Dependent Antibody Self-Association

Joseph Perchiacca, Researcher, Tessier Laboratory, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (biography)

Using this methodology, we find that the antibodies display a complex pH-dependent self-association behavior that is strongly influenced by the solution ionic strength. Importantly, we find that a polyclonal human antibody is nonassociative for all solution conditions evaluated in this work, suggesting that antibody self-association is more specific than previously realized. We expect that our findings will guide rational manipulation of antibody phase behavior, and enable studies that elucidate sequence and structural determinants of antibody self-association.

2:40 The EB66 Cell Line for the Industrial Production of High Potency Antibodies and Analytical Methods for Low-Fucosylated Clones Screening

Stéphane Olivier, Ph. D., Scientist, Protein Department, VIVALISThe EB66 cell line, derived from duck embryonic stem cells, can be efficiently engineered to produce mAbs at yields beyond 1g/L, in serum-free suspension culture. Furthermore, mAbs produced in EB66 cells display a naturally reduced fucose content resulting in strongly enhanced ADCC activity. Analytical methods have been implemented to support low-fucosylated cell line development, including a CD16a cellular binding assay from Cisbio.

2:55 Sponsored Presentation (Opportunity Available)

3:10 Refreshment Break in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing

4:00-5:00 Problem Solving Breakout Discussions

Concurrent problem solving breakout discussions, open to all attendees, speakers, sponsors, and exhibitors, provide a forum for discussing key issues and meeting potential collaborators. Plan to take part and explore these topics in-depth. Please pick a topic of your choice, find your table and join in.

Engineering Alternative Scaffolds vs Engineering Antibodies--Are the Scaffolds Really Superior?

Moderator: Fredrik Frejd, Ph.D., Vice President, Research, Affibody AB

• Natural evolution vs man-made engineering
• So much is known about antibodies, why bother with new protein classes?
• Are scaffolds like Centyrins and Adnectins really different from single domain antibodies?
• Why antibody loops, when there are constraint surface secondary structures in DARPins and Affibody molecules

Antibody Viscosity: Causes, Effects and Remediation

Moderator: Randal Ketchem, Ph.D., Scientific Director, Therapeutic Discovery, Amgen Inc.

• Surface properties that affect viscosity
• Extra-molecular properties that impact viscosity
• Effects of viscosity on therapeutic antibodies
• Remediation of viscosity by extra-molecular sources
• Remediation of viscosity by direct engineering

Alternative Scaffolds vs. Antibodies – Making the Decision

Moderator: Kaspar Binz, Ph.D., Vice President & Co-Founder, Molecular Partners AG

• Advantages of scaffolds over antibodies and vice versa
• Ideal clinical applications of scaffolds and antibodies
• Engineering antibody products vs. scaffold products
• Research speed with different platforms

Use of Antibodies in Nanotech

Moderator: Carston Wagner, Ph.D., Professor, Medicinal Chemistry & Pharmacognosy, University of Minnesota

• Whole antibodies vs fragments
• Method of conjugation
• Characterization

Improving Antibody PK

Moderator: Javier Chaparro-Riggers, Ph.D., Senior Principal Scientist, Protein Engineering, Rinat Pfizer

5:30-8:30 Recommended Dinner Short Courses*

SC14 - Antibody Conjugate Therapeutics Challenges
SC15 - Advances in Immunogenicity Assays

*Separate registration required.

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