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Biotherapeutics Development
Targeting Novel Epitopes
The Biotherapeutics Development Group focuses on (1) generation, characterisation and development of novel monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), and (2) manufacturing of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived exosomes.
Our Antibody Development Platform (ADP) takes a phenotypic approach for mAb generation and screening, and is thus differentiated by being target-agnostic and directed against endogenous post-translational modifications. Through the ADP, first-in-class mAbs targeting novel epitopes can be generated, including aberrant glycosylated antigens or mutations associated with the disease state. The generated mAbs can be commercialised through development as various AntibodyPlus1 applications (antibody-drug conjugate, chimeric antigen receptor, multi-specific etc).
1Zhu, Yong et al. “The emergence of AntibodyPlus: the future trend of antibody-based therapeutics.” Antibody therapeutics vol. 5,4 280-287. 27
Focus Areas
- Development of novel antibody assets and next-generation formats
- Assay development for potency and manufacturability of biotherapeutics
- Exosome manufacturing for preclinical to clinical applications
Antibody Development Platform
Target-agnostic monoclonal antibodies generation using robust hybridoma technology and a high-throughput phenotypic screening approach. Our platform enabled the discovery of antibodies against novel conformational epitopes and post-translational modifications (e.g., glycosylation) unique to the cell type of interest, conferring an additional level of specificity and improving the therapeutic index of the candidate antibodies.
- Advantageous positioning: Access to value chain of bioprocessing and biomanufacturing capabilities within the institute
- Antibody specificity: Binding epitopes (conformational and glycosylation) unique to cell type of interest
- Robust immunisation strategy: Flexibility in choice of immunogen (cells, proteins)
- Antibody engineering: Able to reformat to different antibody modalities (ADC, AOC, CAR, multi-specific, etc) for various applications (therapeutic, diagnostic and in vivo delivery)
- Assay development: Plethora of in vitro and in vivo assay development for developability and functionality evaluation
.png?sfvrsn=a6280509_0 "Antibody Development Platform (resized)")
Exosome Manufacturing Platform
- Established robust scale-up process of therapeutic MSC-derived exosomes
- GMP-compliant production of exosome drug substance to support bench to early-phase clinical trial, e.g. successful completion of Phase I clinical trial for psoriasis
.png?sfvrsn=d8d27a7c_0 "Exosome Manufacturing Platform(resized)")
The Team
Associate Professor Andre Choo
Deputy Executive Director
Senior Principal Scientist III
Our Track Record
Significant Milestones
- EBC-129, a pan-cancer antibody-drug conjugate, was approved for clinical trial in 2023 (link to Press Release)
- Produced GMP-compliant extracellular vesicles for use in early-phase clinical trials in 2022
- Co-development of novel cellular immunotherapies with SCG Cell Therapy (link to Press Release)
- Our platform enabled the discovery of antibodies against unique conformational epitopes, which can be engineered into various modalities
Landmark Patent & IP
- Anti-Ceacam6 Antibodies and Methods of Use (2022)
- Anti-Axl Tyrosine Kinase Receptor Antibodies And Uses Thereof (2022)
- Cytotoxic Antibody (2022)
- Anti-ERBB-2 Antibodies and Uses Thereof (2021)
- Anti Oligosaccharide Antibody (2021)
- Anti-Annexin A2 Monoclonal Antibodies (2020)
- Enrichment And Characterization Of Human Corneal Endothelial Cells (Hcenc) With Novel Monoclonal Antibody (2019)
- Use of Markers of Undifferentiated Pluripotent Stem Cell (2014)
Featured Publications
- Nisha Suyien Chandran, Monil Nagad Bhupendrabhai, Thong Teck Tan, Bin Zhang, Sai Kiang Lim, Andre Boon Hwa Choo, Ruenn Chai Lai (2025) A phase 1, open-label study to determine safety and tolerability of the topical application of mesenchymal stem/stromal cell (MSC) exosome ointment to treat psoriasis in healthy volunteers. Cytotherapy 27(5), 633–641.
- Mario Gimona, Maria Felice Brizzi, Andre Boon Hwa Choo, Massimo Dominici, Sean M. Davidson, Johannes Grillari, Dirk M. Hermann, Andrew F. Hill, Dominique de Kleijn, Ruenn Chai Lai, Charles P. Lai, Rebecca Lim, Marta Monguió-Tortajada, Maurizio Muraca, Takahiro Ochiya, Luis A. Ortiz, Wei Seong Toh, Yong Weon Yi, Kenneth W. Witwer, Bernd Giebel and Sai Kiang Lim (2021) Critical considerations for the development of potency tests for therapeutic applications of mesenchymal stromal cell-derived small extracellular vesicles. Cytotherapy 23(5): 373-380
- Ngan T B Nguyen, Hau Wan Leung, Kuin Tian Pang, Shi Jie Tay, Ian Walsh, Andre B H Choo, Yuansheng Yang (2023) Optimizing effector functions of monoclonal antibodies via tailored N-glycan engineering using a dual landing pad CHO targeted integration platform. Scientific Reports, 13(1): 15620
- Leonard Leong, Heng Liang Tan, Simeon Cua, Kylie Su Mei Yong, Qingfeng Chen and Andre Choo (2020) Preclinical Activity of Embryonic Annexin A2-Specific Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells Against Ovarian Cancer. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 21(2): 381
- Heng Liang Tan, Charlene Yong, Bao Zhu Tan, Wey Jia Fong, Jayanthi Padmanabhan, Angela Chin, Vanessa Ding, Ally Lau, Lu Zheng, Xuezhi Bi, Yuansheng Yang and Andre Choo (2018) Conservation of oncofetal antigens on human embryonic stem cells enables discovery of monoclonal antibodies against cancer. Scientific Reports 8(1): 11608
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