In a groundbreaking move, LabGenius Therapeutics has expanded its EVA platform to enhance the discovery of complex antibodies through automation and machine learning. This expansion allows for unprecedented experimental throughput while maintaining data quality, significantly accelerating the development of potential therapeutics. Mohammad Akhlaq, Head of Automation at LabGenius, shares insights into how this technological advancement is reshaping antibody discovery.

Enhanced Platform Drives Innovation in Antibody Research

LabGenius Therapeutics has taken a significant step forward by enhancing its EVA platform with a high-throughput workcell. In an exclusive interview, Mohammad Akhlaq discusses his role in leading the automation efforts that have tripled the platform's experimental capacity. By integrating over 33 devices into a single system, LabGenius can now design, produce, purify, and characterize up to 2,300 multispecific/multivalent antibodies within six weeks. This capability is considered world-leading and involves automating wet-lab steps to assess antibody characteristics using disease-relevant cell-based assays.

Akhlaq highlights the importance of collaboration with Beckman Coulter, which facilitated the construction of a highly intricate molecular biology workflow. The use of advanced liquid handling technologies ensures near-continuous process operation, enabling the production of sequence-verified DNA ready for mammalian cell transfection. This sophisticated setup not only increases throughput but also maintains high-quality, disease-relevant data, crucial for refining machine learning models.

The expansion addresses challenges such as ensuring mechanical and biological robustness, achieved through rigorous testing and collaboration with expert teams. Automated colony-picking processes have been optimized, allowing the completion of molecular biology procedures within seven days for 2,300 designs. These advancements position LabGenius at the forefront of antibody discovery, capable of running multiple lead optimization programs simultaneously.

Looking ahead, Akhlaq envisions automation and machine learning continuing to revolutionize antibody discovery by co-optimizing increasingly complex antibody formats. LabGenius aims to overcome on-target, off-tumor toxicity through avidity-driven selectivity, differentiating between healthy and diseased cells based on differential TAA expression. Future milestones include incorporating tri- and tetra-specific antibodies with sophisticated modes of action, further expanding the platform's capabilities.

From a reader's perspective, this innovation underscores the transformative potential of integrating automation and machine learning in biotechnology. It exemplifies how cutting-edge technology can accelerate medical discoveries, offering hope for more effective treatments. As LabGenius continues to scale its capabilities, the EVA platform sets new standards for safety and efficacy, paving the way for groundbreaking advancements in therapeutic development.