FluoSphera to License Debiopharm’s 3D Antibody Characterization Tech, Aided by Leica Microscope

Editor’s Take: Leveraging technologies from multiple providers gives partners an integrated workflow for antibody characterization.

FluoSphera and Debiopharm have a new license agreement under which FluoSphera will use AbYlink, Debiopharm’s proprietary antibody conjugation technology. FluoSphera is also using Leica Microsystems’ Viventis Deep light sheet fluorescence microscope for antibody distribution quantification in tissue penetration studies.

The agreement between FluoSphera and Debiopharm empowers the former to offer an integrated workflow to biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. This workflow combines regioselective antibody labeling, high-throughput testing in human-relevant 3D models, and quantitative imaging analysis.

FluoSphera and Debiopharm Tackle Antibody Challenges

In essence, the setup supports characterization of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), bispecific antibodies, therapeutic antibodies, and other such modalities. According to FluoSphera and Debiopharm, antibody therapeutics are becoming increasingly sophisticated. With candidates labeled by AbYlink, and subsequently evaluated by FluoSphera’s 3D testing platform, characterization of certain elements becomes clearer. These include target binding, target selectivity, tissue penetration, and spatial distribution.

FluoSphera’s hope is that bringing these capabilities together in a single, in-vitro workflow will help partners generate biologically relevant data. In turn, they will then be able to select the most promising candidates earlier on in the drug development journey.

Leica Microscope Provides Further Sophistication

As for Leica’s Viventis Deep, this microscope’s optical configuration permits imaging deep inside a sample. This enables providing deep spatial information, supporting precise, robust quantification of penetration depth, distribution, and homogeneity in complex tumor structures.

Analyses such as these complement conventional binding assays by showing how tissue architecture and target expression impact antibody behavior.

According to FluoSphera CEO Clélia Bourgoint, it all comes down to time—and cost—savings.

“Our goal is [helping] developers identify the most promising candidates before committing to more resource-intensive, costly development studies,” Bourgoint said.

For Debiopharm’s part, Patrick Garrouste, Drug Research & Development Executive Director at Debiopharm Research & Manufacturing, expressed pride in participating.

“We are pleased to support development of integrated workflows that may help better understand behavior of antibody candidates,” Garrouste said.