Abveris VHH Discovery Benefits

Benefits of VHHs

• VHHs could provide access to hindered epitopes on complex cell surface targets, including multipass transmembrane proteins, which are inaccessible by a full IgG (Figure 1)
• VHHs are proven building blocks for scalable and flexible bispecific and multispecifics generation (Figure 2)
• VHHs show generally favorable developability and manufacturability profiles compared to conventional IgG molecules
• VHH is an emerging antibody fragment for the ectodomain of a CAR construct used in cell therapy

TARGETING CELL SURFACE TARGETS WITH VHH

Traditionally, display technologies (in vitro methods) are the major routes for VHH discovery. However, display technologies are not optimized for cell surface targets as cell-based screening could not be consistently incorporated into the panning process. This has led to significant attritions of on-cell binding hits coming out from the screening funnel.

Abveris has developed an optimized in vivo discovery workflow based on immunized camelids tailored for cell surface targets. Abveris leverages an industry-leading Beacon-based single B cell screening platform, enabling the rapid identification of on-cell binders with required activities and/or cross-reactivity in just 1 day.

Figure 1. The longer CDR3 of VHHs is advantageous for accessing epitopes

on cell surface targets that cannot be reached with conventional IgG molecules

Figure 2. VHHs are versatile building blocks that offer convenient

and scalable paths to the production of bispecifics and multispecifics

SUPERIOR CELL SURFACE TARGET VHH DISCOVERY

• Screen on-cells for specificity/function from IgG2/3 secreting camelid B cells
• High-resolution screening cascade of up to 4 on-cell assays before sequence recovery
• Overcome know limitations of in vitro methods
• Abveris offers streamlined discovery workflow with integrated assay cell line development services

High-affinity antibodies from natural repertoire

• Good affinities attributed to longer CDR3 sequences of natural camelid VHH repertoire than that of conventional IgG
• Minimize the need for in vitro affinity maturation
• Beacon-based affinity screen to capture high-affinity binders 

Rapid screening timelines

• Direct screening on IgG2/3 secreting B cells in 1 day via an industry-leading single B cell platform
• No need to build immune-specific libraries which typically takes weeks to months
• Purified, validated antibodies in less than 3 months from the start of immunization

Royalty or Milestone free 

• No royalty or milestone terms for discovery campaigns initiated in 2022

• Flexible project terms including a fee-for-service option to accommodate different partners