UCB has launched its Technology Platform Access, a collaboration program for the discovery and development of novel antibodies against potential therapeutic targets.

Medicine discovery integrates scientific innovation with cutting-edge technology, and through the program academic and research groups can apply to gain access to UCB’s new, automated antibody discovery platform, which can generate, select, produce and evaluate new human antibody-based medicines for patients.

Ismail Kola, executive vice president, UCB NewMedicines, said, “Partnerships between academic groups and industry are vital to the future of scientific discovery. We are hugely committed to seeking new ways of working and creating super-networks to advance medical research and improve health. This program offers the chance for groups to access our state-of-the-art technology as well as collaborate with our premier discovery team.”

In December 2013, UCB announced the successful completion of a $5.5 million investment in a new laboratory with cutting-edge robotic equipment for the fully automated discovery of antibodies. This has permitted the company to greatly increase its antibody discovery capacity and coincides with the successful conclusion of a project to develop new technology to mine the natural repertoire of antibody sequence.

In conjunction with strong antibody engineering and expression capabilities, plus structural biology expertise, this represents a novel and efficient route to the generation of high-quality antibodies, not only against human targets, but also for the generation of research tools for proof-of-concept models.

UCB is accepting proposals from academic and research groups for collaborative projects on antibody targets, using this antibody discovery platform at its immunology research center of excellence facility in the U.K.