February 1st, 2024

Blog: AbZelectPRO™- The Fast-Tracked CLD Platform of the Future

In our latest blog, we sat down with ProteoNic Biosciences’ Director of Business Development, Dr Jonathan Frampton, and Abzena’s CSO, Dr Campbell Bunce to discuss the backstory and benefits of their newly launched cell line development (CLD) platform, AbZelectPRO™.

How did the partnership between Abzena and ProteoNic stem AbZelectPRO™?

The partnership between Abzena and ProteoNic to introduce AbZelectPRO™ was driven by mutual benefits. Abzena through its continual efforts to offer customers the best possible services found an excellent technical synergy with its own cell line platform, AbZelect™, and ProteoNic’s vector, 2G UNic®. ProteoNic saw an opportunity to bring its premium technology to Abzena’s customers. Together customers will benefit from a strong platform with shorter timelines, higher production levels, and lower production costs. This collaboration is designed to be a win-win for customers, as the technology is applicable to a wide range of products, ensuring efficiency and effectiveness in their development and production processes.

What makes the 2G UNic® vector cutting edge?
ProteoNic’s 2G UNic® vector technology represents a groundbreaking advancement in biologic production. It’s designed to significantly elevate titers for various biologic target proteins, including MAbs, Bispecifics, Trispecifics, Fc Fusions, and more. This remarkable technology achieves enhanced titers through a multi-faceted approach.

First, it leverages a patented dual-promoter system that more than doubles transcription, driving increased gene expression. The 2G UNic® vector technology elements are epigenetically optimized to ensure consistent transcription levels, while a 3’UTR facilitates efficient mRNA transport from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, enabling seamless translation. At the translational level, the 2G UNic® vector technology elements create a 2D-hairpin structure, acting as a ribosomal recruitment site. This not only enhances mRNA stability but also increases translational levels. Collectively, these elements within the 2G UNic® vector technology lead to a significant boost in protein production and higher titers, making it a game-changer in the field of biologic manufacturing.

What was Abzena’s goal when pairing 2G UNic with AbZelect™?
Abzena’s objective in integrating 2G UNic® vector technology with our host cell line was to enhance production capabilities significantly. By leveraging the premium 2G UNic technology with our highly stable, fast-growing cell line, AbZelect™, we can achieve higher production levels, even for challenging-to-express proteins. This breakthrough has a profound impact on manufacturing costs and overall economic viability, making production processes more efficient and cost-effective.

How does AbZelectPRO™ help difficult-to-express (DTE) proteins compared to other platforms?
AbZelectPRO gains a distinct advantage over competitors by harnessing the power of Premium 2G UNic® vector technology on Abzena’s high-performing host cell line, which influences multiple crucial aspects of the protein expression process, resulting in the maximization of production levels. This impact is especially pronounced when dealing with difficult-to-express proteins, where traditional methods often fall short.

While many other technologies primarily focus on increasing transcription levels, 2G UNic® vector technology takes a more comprehensive approach. It recognizes that, for difficult-to-express proteins, transcription alone is not the sole bottleneck. Instead, 2G UNic® vector technology enhances various facets of protein production, including increased translation, improved mRNA stability, and enhanced mRNA transport. These enhancements work synergistically to achieve significantly higher production levels.

In essence, AbZelectPRO™’s utilization of Premium 2G UNic® vector technology on a high-performing host cell line addresses the unique challenges posed by difficult-to-express proteins, offering a more comprehensive solution that can have a transformative impact on manufacturing costs and the economic viability of production compared to competitors.

Any important closing points?
Customers should prioritize using the best technology from the outset because it can save them valuable time and resources down the road. By adopting cutting-edge technology early in the process, they can sidestep the need to revisit and improve their cell lines later, which can lead to years of delays when scaling up production for clinical testing and commercialization. In essence, starting with the right technology not only streamlines their path to market but also ensures they maintain a competitive edge in the rapidly evolving landscape of biologic production.

For more information about Abzena’s enhanced cell line development capabilities, click here.

 

Blog: AbZelectPRO™- The Fast-Tracked CLD Platform of the Future

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