Every year, scientists all over the world are screening millions of molecules in search for novel therapies. Biacore™ surface plasmon resonance technology has supported such scientific efforts for three decades now – and the future is even more promising.
Despite technological leaps in science, the discovery of diagnostics and therapies remains challenging; improving bioanalytical productivity is one of the greatest hurdles of drug discovery. Modern surface plasmon resonance has proven to be an efficient tool to optimize the pharmaceutical R&D process. Since 1990, when the first optical biosensor came to market, Biacore surface plasmon resonance has become synonymous with protein research. Today, this is a common technology used in drug discovery, quality control, and drug-release testing. "From early screening to analytical validation and kinetic parameter determination, Biacore technology can be integral to any drug discovery project,” says Katie Del Vecchio, a seasoned technology user. She is a research scientist at Relay Therapeutics, a Cambridge-based clinical-stage precision medicine company transforming the drug discovery process by leveraging unparalleled insights into protein motion.
Protein research continues despite COVID-19 challenges. Photo: Katie Del Vecchio working with a Biacore 8K (credits: Katie del Vecchio/Relay Therapeutics)
Biacore instruments explore the depths of proteins, through a real-time investigation of complex molecular interactions. One the earliest biopharmaceuticals to be selected from a Biacore screening in the mid-1990s was today’s best-selling drug Humira. It is prescribed to treat a wide range of diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, psoriasis, and Crohn's disease.
Observing proteins in motion for accelerated results
It is estimated that the average cost of bringing a new drug to market is $2.6 billion dollars1. Understanding molecular interactions can help speed drug discovery, while reducing costs. For scientists like Del Vecchio, Biacore technology is critical in finding molecules that bind to disease-causing proteins, as well as evaluating the relationship between these molecules’ structure and function. Characterization of binding properties can lead to early prediction of drug candidate efficacy. And when a suitable candidate is identified, the technology is used for detailed kinetic analysis, target specificity, as well as immunogenicity and stability studies to ensure the release of a safe and effective drug.
In the research laboratory at Relay Therapeutics, Del Vecchio conducts scientific work that is pivotal to the company’s drug discovery program. Del Vecchio runs experiments on Biacore instruments to characterize the binding of small molecules to the biotech’s targets. “The Biacore system is a part of our drug discovery pipeline and a method we use for hit finding and validation. The technique allows us to triage our best hits and advance the optimal chemical matter,” she says.
Surface plasmon resonance also leads to unexpected findings. “In one case, we observed unusual kinetics for an early hit via a Biacore assay which would have been missed by other assays,” explains Del Vecchio.
Key scientific questions arise during drug discovery which Biacore SPR technology helps answer. How fast is the interaction between molecules? How specific is the binding? Could molecular interactions cause side-effects?
Developed by scientists for scientists
“Scientists need to find answers to many puzzling questions before taking therapeutic molecules into clinical trials,” says biochemistry Professor Helena Danielson at Sweden’s Uppsala University. She first started performing experiments with Biacore systems in 1996. Her research has provided valuable insights into viral protease inhibitors - antiviral drugs for chronic diseases like HIV and hepatitis C. Today, she works with drug discovery targeting new viruses - including coronavirus, alongside fundamental biochemistry research.
“We use Biacore systems to understand the enzyme-inhibitor interactions, necessary in developing treatments for patients with COVID-19,” says Danielson.
The Biacore platform was developed by scientists for scientists and has evolved over the years. While Cytiva researchers advance the technology, academics like Danielson evaluate it through countless experiments. “In my early days with Biacore experiments, my research group demonstrated for the first time that screening protein-fragment interactions was possible,” she says. This finding changed the industry’s approach to small molecules and is now a standard procedure used in drug discovery.
“Tight collaboration between academia and biotech partners is necessary to bring value across the entire global healthcare ecosystem. And Biacore technology proves that,” concludes Danielson.
Visit https://www.cytivalifesciences.com/en/us/solutions/protein-research/analyze-with-spr to learn more about Biacore technology.
1 GlobalData