Custom Antibody Development & Production Services

The process of producing a custom monoclonal antibody starts with selecting an antigen of interest (a protein, carbohydrate, lipid, hapten, or even whole cells). The antigen is produced, purified, and characterized. The antigen is used to immunize a desired animal species to create antibodies using the hybridoma method, B cell screening method, and when using immune antibody libraries for phage display.

However, isolating antibodies from a naïve antibody phage display library does not require immunization. After immunization, antibody-producing B cells are isolated from the blood of the immunized animal, and custom antibodies are isolated and verified to bind the intended target. Depending on the requirements, the antibodies can be further modified or engineered for specific applications, such as increased stability or enhanced binding affinity.

Yes, synthetic antibodies, referred to as recombinant antibodies, can be genetically engineered thanks to advances in molecular biology and genetic engineering. This is achieved by inserting the genes encoding the antibody variable regions into an expression vector containing the conserved antibody regions. The DNA construct is expressed in bacteria, yeast, or mammalian cells needed to express large quantities of the recombinant antibody.

Recombinant antibodies allow scientists to select for certain desirable antibody traits such as antibody specificity and affinity, reduced immunogenicity (when used therapeutically) and desired features that provide scalable production of the antibody.

Antibody services refer to a range of specialized offerings provided by biotechnology companies, contract research organizations (CROs), or academic laboratories. These services are designed to support various research, diagnostic, and therapeutic applications in fields such as immunology, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare.

If there’s a requirement for an antibody targeting a particular antigen that is not easily procurable from standard suppliers, custom antibody production services come into play. Whether to engineer a new diagnostic, research, or clinical antibody or improve the efficacy of an already available commercial product, our custom polyclonal, monoclonal and recombinant antibody generation services deliver a superior product.

At ProteoGenix, we offer comprehensive custom antibody services under one roof, from antibody production and development to antibody engineering and characterization. We possess a wide range of phage display libraries and a proprietary protein expression system (XtenCHO), to supercharge antibody synthesis.

The key difference between monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies lies in their origin and specificity. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are produced by a single B cell and bind a specific epitope (binding site) on an antigen (target).

Polyclonal antibodies (pAbs) are a combination of monoclonal antibodies derived from multiple B cells, capable of recognizing and binding to multiple epitopes on a single antigen providing broader specificity. Both polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies have their own set of strengths and weaknesses, so they can be beneficial for various purposes, depending on specific goals and requirements.

In the same way as for the cost, the development of an antibody can be extremely variable depending on the application and the method chosen. It can range from around one month for polyclonal antibodies to more than a year for a fully custom therapeutic antibody project.
This difference in time is mainly explained by a difference in the complexity of the process. Developing a polyclonal antibody involves producing an antigen, immunizing animals and then collecting, testing and possibly purifying the serum. The whole process generally takes between 1 and 2 months.

The development of a therapeutic monoclonal antibody involves, in addition to the complex generation of a monoclonal antibody, various engineering steps aimed at refining the properties of the antibody. These steps may include affinity maturation, humanization, improving developability, changing the antibody’s format (bispecific, ADC, etc.), each of which can take from several weeks to several months. If you’re pressed for time, our experts can advise you on the most suitable solutions for your custom antibody development.

Generally, custom antibody production can range from a few hundred to tens of thousands of dollars, with monoclonal antibodies typically being more expensive due to the complexity of the process. The cost of making custom antibodies varies depending on several factors, including the type of antibody (monoclonal or polyclonal), the complexity of the process, the scale of production, and the specific requirements of the project.

Additionally, factors such as the choice of host species, purification methods, and additional services like antibody labeling or modification can also impact the overall cost. It’s essential to consult with service providers to get accurate cost estimates tailored to specific project requirements. At ProteoGenix, you can always request a free quote.