Bridging Topic: Antibody-Based Therapies

We want to effectively contribute to the protection against and therapy of infectious diseases with monoclonal antibodies.

Monoclonal antibodies have great potential to be used effectively to protect against and treat infectious diseases. Their development into new drugs is more necessary than ever at a time when increasing resistance is rendering existing anti-infectives ineffective and ever new viruses can trigger dangerous diseases. Broadly neutralising antibodies against HI viruses and against the SARS-CoV-2 virus have already been identified and clinically tested in the DZIF. Nevertheless, major challenges remain to optimally exploit the full potential of therapeutic antibodies.

Mission of the Bridging Topic "Antibody-Based Therapies"

The interdisciplinary group on the Bridging Topic "Antibody-Based Therapies" aims to advance the development, production and clinical testing of monoclonal antibodies and thus bring new drugs into application. Experts from different areas provide their knowledge and link existing infrastructures and resources within the DZIF and beyond. Overarching collaboration with the other German Centers for Health Research has already begun and contacts with pharmaceutical companies are being intensified and expanded. The group will advise the Executive Board on future projects. Young scientists in antibody research will be supported.

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The DZIF Antibody Core Platform (Ab-Core Platform)

The DZIF Ab-Core Platform was developed as part of the Bridging Topic "Antibody-Based Therapies". It enables the rapid and comprehensive evaluation of novel antibody candidates for preventing and treating infectious diseases.

DZIF members can submit antibody sequences and select from a range of specialized tools and analyses through a secure online interface. Experienced partners within the DZIF perform these analyses across multiple partner sites.

The DZIF Ab-Core Platform has the following specific objectives:

Characterization of antibody properties (including antibody sequence testing for liabilities, determination of pharmacokinetic parameters in relevant animal models, structural analyses, and evaluation of poly- and autoreactivity).
Testing of antibody production (manufacturability, mid-scale production, and determination of maximum concentrations in different formulations).
Use of Fc engineering and characterization of Fc-mediated effects.

Further information on the DZIF Ab-Core Platform in the DZIF Data & Tools Hub

Events

The following workshops on the Bridging Topic have been held so far: