Why Abzena?
Our focused approach.
Our comprehensive, stand-alone analytical offering is phase-appropriate, modality-specific, & fully customizable to meet the needs of your drug program.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
➔ 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
➔ 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.
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
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
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
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
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:
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