Biologics Analytics & Bioassays - Abzena

Stand-Alone Analytical Services for Biologics, Bioconjugates & Advanced Therapies

Our comprehensive, stand-alone analytical offering is phase-appropriate, modality-specific, & fully customizable to meet the needs of your drug program.

Comprehensive Stand-Alone Analytical Testing Support

If you are manufacturing or performing developability for your program elsewhere but still need analytical support, Abzena can help with your analytical strategy from pre-IND through commercial supply. We offer end-to-end and orthogonal solutions for both innovator and biosimilar drug substance, drug product, intermediates, and raw materials.

Our scientific team is comprised of industry Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) who can tailor the project to our customers’ program needs. Our phase-appropriate, modality-specific, and customizable approach means that each method is thoughtfully established and validated, whether it’s through development, optimization, or transfer.

Once the method is at the appropriate state, release, stability, and characterization activities may be performed in both a GMP or non-GMP manner. Backed by our global network of state-of-the-art laboratories—in Cambridge (UK), San Diego (USA), and Bristol (PA) – we operate under one integrated Quality Management System (QMS) to deliver high-quality and trusted data. Each site maintains ISO Class 5–8 controlled environments and audit-ready processes to guarantee data integrity and regulatory readiness.

Supported Modalities

Abzena delivers deep analytical subject matter expertise across a broad range of modalities, including:

➔ Monoclonal Antibodies (mAbs)
➔ Bi/Multi-specific Antibodies (bsAbs)
➔ Fusion Proteins
➔ Cytokines
➔ Recombinant, Viral & Conjugate Vaccines
➔ Nanoparticles
➔ RNA
➔ Oligonucleotides
➔ Peptides
➔ Enzymes
➔ Bioconjugates (e.g. ADCs, AOCs, RACs, RDCs, PDCs, etc.)
➔ Biosimilars
➔ Gene Therapy

Quality Compliance

Our unified QMS ensures consistent application of FDA, EMA, and ICH requirements across all laboratories, each maintaining ISO Class 5–8 environments and, in the UK, ISO 9001/14001/45001 certification.

Quality Compliance - Abzena

Method Establishment

Abzena offers full lifecycle support for each method to ensure they are set up to be fit-for-purpose. We can customize the strategy based on project need for each method and stage. The following activities are performed to support the appropriate establishment of the method:

Initial Method Setup:

➔ Method Development
➔ Method Evaluation
➔ Method Optimization

Upon completion of initial method setup activities, the following GMP enabling activities can be performed as needed:

Compendial Method Phase Appropriate Verification
➔ Method Transfers
➔ Method Qualification/Phase I/II validation
➔ Method Validation (Phase III/BLA)

Product-specific methods are issued for all assays to ensure methods have complete and thorough details specific to the product material.


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GMP Release Testing & AD Hoc Testing

Upon appropriate establishment of methods, comprehensive in-process control and GMP lot release testing can be performed. At Abzena, our flexibility can provide significant value to support our customers’ specific needs and goals.

Whether a full release panel testing is needed or just one or a few assays, Abzena can support this effort based on the appropriate method establishment. Testing is available for GMP or for characterization/non-GMP purposes.

Our team of expert scientists understands that each molecule, material type, and customer have their own release and testing strategy and that they may need to adjust based on the development phase, filing strategy, and other factors.


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Large Molecule Analytical Assays

Each analytical offering leverages advanced instrumentation and robust workflows to deliver data that drives decision-making. Choose the stand-alone large molecule analytical assay(s) that best support your program.

Compendial Assays (Microbiology & Non-Micro)
To support release and stability testing, and other ad hoc testing as needed.

➔ pH
➔ Appearance
➔ Osmolality
➔ Volume
➔ Osmolality
➔ Subvisible Particle
➔ HIAC
➔ MFI
➔ Endotoxin
➔ Bioburden

Separation Science
Our comprehensive and state-of-the-art chromatographic and electrophoretic technologies provide a deep array of services, including:

➔ Chromatography: HPLC/UPLC with UV, ELSD,PDA, MALS & MS detection
➔ SEC
➔ RP-HPLC
➔ IEX
➔ HILIC
➔ HIC

Electrophoresis
Capillary/plate-based: CE-SDS and icIEF using:

➔ Maurice,
➔ MauriceFlex,
➔ Labchip GXII HT Touch
➔ CE-SI 8000
➔ Gel-based: SDS-PAGE, IEF, and Western Blot

Biochemical Assays

➔ Content (UV & SoloVPE)
➔ Moisture
➔ Residual Solvents
➔ Process Residuals
➔ Elemental Impurities
➔ Elemental composition
➔ Extinction Coefficient Determination

Molecular & Cellular Biological Assays

➔ Cell-based Assay
➔ Binding by ELISA
➔ Enzymatic Assay
➔ Viral Testing
➔ Residual Capture Ligand
➔ Protein A
➔ HCP
➔ Residual DNA
➔ Immunogenicity

Binding & Function

➔ Target Binding
➔ Receptor Function & Cell Signaling
➔ Fc Effector Function
➔ Internalization & Trafficking
➔ Cytotoxicity Assays
➔ Gene Expression
➔ Cell-based Potency

Abzena can provide phase-appropriate bioassay support from pre-IND to commercial release, across multiple platforms and readouts.


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Mass Spectrometry

High-resolution intact mass analysis, peptide mapping, post-translational modification profiling, glycan mapping, drug to antibody ratio (DAR), and free drug/linker quantification, plus MS-based epitope mapping.

Mass spectrometry equipment includes:

➔ Orbitrap-MS: QE plus with Dionex nLC (Thermo)
➔ Q-TOF-MS: Xevo G2-S with Nano-Acquity UPLC (Waters)
➔ TOF-MS: Xevo G2-XS with H Class UPLC (Waters)
➔ TOF-MS: Waters Bioaccord system comprising I-class UPLC, RDa TOF ms, UV and FLD detectors
➔ Triple quad: Waters Xevo TQ-S micro with Acquity premier I-class UPLC and ELSD and PDA detectors


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Immunogenicity Assessment

Stage-appropriate immunogenicity risk assessments enable de-risking of candidates using all or a combination of the following approaches to suit your needs:

➔ Insilico epitope prediction (iTopeAI)
➔ MAPPs/Proteomics MS-based approach,
➔ T-Cell Epitope Mapping
➔ EpiScreen 2.0 Time Course
➔ Episcreen 2.0 DC T-Cell
➔ Cytokine Release to flag potential immunogenic concerns


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Stability Programs

At Abzena, we can support ICH-compliant GMP and non GMP stability studies. All chambers are qualified, on emergency backup power, monitored by building management system, have multiple redundant conditions at each site and redundancy across our sites – Bristol, PA and San Diego, CA; The following conditions are currently provided to support large-molecule drugs:

➔ – 80° ± 10°C
➔ -20° ± 5°C
➔ 5° ± 3°C
➔ 25°C ± 2°C / 60% ± 5% RH
➔ 40°C ± 2°C / 75% ± 5% RH

Example stability studies include:

➔ Development /Prototype
➔ Clinical
➔ Commercial
➔ Freeze/Thaw
➔ Photostability
➔ In-Use
➔ Reconstitution


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Extended Characterization

Our characterization tools offer a comprehensive solution for your extended characterization needs, including higher-order structure analysis, aggregation studies, forced degradation studies, comparability studies, reference standard characterization, and other specialized studies:

➔ DLS
➔ DSC
➔ FTIR
➔ NMR
➔ X-Ray
➔ CD
➔ AUC
➔ Mass Spec
➔ SEC-MALS
➔ Bioassay
➔ Other routine assays based on study


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Formulation Development

Preformulation screening, injectability/syringe-ability assessments, and lyophilization evaluations can be conducted using our nine-step phased process, which can be adapted to the needs of your program:

➔ Multistage comprehensive program (up to 9 stages)
➔ The program is flexible to suit the needs and phase of development
➔ Multiple tools available to streamline the process vs the traditional process
➔ Experience and expertise are available to guide the customer through the best options

Key Technologies

➔ Prometheus
➔ Uncle
➔ Nanotemper

Overview of Workflow

Typically, two stages are performed as part of initial formulation development:
1: Preformulation
2: Formulation Development

Post-formulation development activities include:
3. Concentration Optimization
4. Injectability Assessment
5. Syringe-ability Assessment
6. Lyophilization Assessment

Later-stage activities include:
7. Container Interaction Studies
8. Formulation Robustness Studies
9. Thermal Stability in Final Format

Nanotemper Technology - Abzena


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Let’s move medicine forward - Abzena

Get Started

De-risk your CMC program and accelerate timelines with Abzena’s Stand-Alone Analytical Services. Contact us to discuss your analytical strategy and receive a detailed proposal.