Abzena’s advanced drug development showcased at CPHI Milan

By offering comprehensive, integrated solutions, Abzena aims to streamline drug development processes and minimize risks for customers, helping to accelerate timelines and enhance production. OSP had a catch-up with them after the event to find out how things went. 

What new products or innovations did your company showcase at CPHI Milan 2024 this year?​

At CPHI Milan 2024, Abzena highlighted its enhanced cell line development platform, AbZelectPRO, and its latest advancements in integrated drug development and manufacturing capabilities for antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). The AbZelectPRO platform enables customers to go from DNA to research cell bank (RCB) in 10 weeks, producing up to 8g/L from stable clones. This high-producing and highly stable platform offers an optimized expression cassette that’s proven to enhance protein expression by leveraging novel genetic elements, leading to improved production levels across a wide range of protein targets, including difficult-to-produce proteins such as bi-specifics and fusion proteins. 

Abzena also showcased its high-potency handling capabilities for the development and cGMP manufacture of ADCs, along with its next-generation site-specific linker technology, ThioBridge™. Having linker-payload design, bioconjugation, complex chemistry, and GMP manufacturing capabilities all under a single organization, enables us to de-risk and streamline the development of its customer’s ADC programs-  from discovery through commercial launch.

What did you achieve at CPHI this year?​

Abzena’s goal at CPHI Milan was to engage with industry leaders and innovators to foster collaborations that drive biopharmaceutical drug development forward. We demonstrated how the company's fully integrated approach can add value to our customers’ projects by simplifying complex development processes and minimizing risks. Additionally, we gained insights into emerging industry trends and customer needs to guide continuous efforts to improve and refine our services.

How does your company stay ahead of industry trends and developments in the pharmaceutical sector?​

The company stays ahead of industry trends by actively engaging with the pharmaceutical community and continuously adapting to the evolving landscape. We participate in key industry conferences, connecting with thought leaders and innovators to gain insights into emerging technologies and market dynamics. Our teams closely monitor regulatory developments and global events that impact supply chains, capacity, costs, and investments in the sector.

We invest in talent development and foster a culture of innovation across our global organization. By encouraging collaboration between our research, development, and manufacturing teams, we ensure that new ideas and technologies are rapidly integrated into our processes. This proactive approach allows us to anticipate industry shifts and adjust our strategies accordingly, ensuring we provide our customers with the most up-to-date and effective solutions. Our commitment to staying informed and adaptable enables us to help our customers navigate uncertainties and succeed in a competitive market.

What sets your company apart from competitors in the pharmaceutical industry, and what value do you offer to your customers?​

Abzena distinguishes itself through our fully integrated capabilities that span from early research and development, through to clinical and commercial manufacturing for complex biologics and Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs). We prioritize building strong partnerships, focusing on transparency and collaboration to achieve successful outcomes. Our ability to manage complex projects efficiently provides significant value by reducing risk and accelerating time to market.

Our suite of bioassays, including our EpiScreen 2.0 immunogenicity platform, allows us to assess the potency, efficacy and safety of our customers' products.  This gives them the insight to make data-driven decisions early on in their development journey, so they can start smart and progress fast.

By offering linker-payload design, development, and ADC manufacturing within a single organization, we reduce supply chain complexity, streamline development processes, and minimize risks for our customers. Our tightly integrated research and manufacturing teams work seamlessly, incorporating cutting-edge technologies—including our proprietary ThioBridge platform—to accelerate timelines, reduce costs, and enhance reliability from early-stage research to full-scale production.

Our commitment to innovation and technological leadership keeps us at the forefront of ADC development. We continuously invest in new technologies and expand our manufacturing capabilities, including commercial-scale production, to meet the evolving needs of the pharmaceutical industry. Operating across multiple global sites, we provide scalable solutions and international expertise, supporting projects at all stages. By simplifying the path from research to market, we deliver significant value to our customers, helping them achieve clinical success efficiently and effectively.

Can you discuss any plans for expansion or market growth in the pipeline?​

The company is continually exploring opportunities to expand our global footprint and enhance our service offerings. We are investing in  our manufacturing capacity to support commercial scale programs and incorporating new technologies to meet the growing demands of the pharmaceutical industry. These plans aim to strengthen our position as a leading CDMO+CRO and ensure we can support our customer’s needs as they scale.

What challenges are you currently facing in the pharmaceutical market, and how is your organization addressing them?​

The pharmaceutical market is experiencing a tightening of investment, particularly in early-stage biotech funding. While funding hasn't disappeared, companies are more cautious about allocating resources. Abzena is addressing this challenge by working more closely with our customers to demonstrate the value and efficiency of our services. We build trust through collaborative relationships, offering flexible and scalable solutions that help our customers maximize their investment. By understanding their specific needs and constraints, we're able to tailor our approaches to deliver meaningful results, even in a more competitive funding environment.