Akubio installs a RAP·id 4 system at UCB

Akubio Ltd today announces that it has installed a RAP·id 4 system at UCB. As an early access partner UCB has assisted in the development of the new analytical instrument which measures molecular interactions - a vital process in the research and discovery of new biological drugs such as proteins and antibodies.

By basing its innovative technology on quartz resonators similar to those used in wrist watches, Akubio is able to provide pharmaceutical researchers with precise information on how well proteins interact with each other and with drug candidates by providing real time data on specificity, binding rates and binding affinity, with the potential to design better drugs. Traditional methods of measuring protein-protein interactions rely either on the addition of radioactive labels, which is time consuming and can affect interactions between molecules, or optical sensors, which are complex and prone to interference. With RAP technology, protein interactions are specifically measured in crude and complex mixtures thereby eliminating expensive and time-consuming purification procedures.

Dr Alastair Lawson, Director of Antibody Biology at UCB, said: "At UCB we are always looking for innovative ways to strengthen our antibody technology. We saw Akubio's RAP technology as a potentially powerful tool and have provided significant input to the development of the RAP·id 4. The RAP·id 4 product will be an important tool for advancing our therapeutic projects."

Dr Andrew Mackintosh, Chief Executive Officer of Akubio, commented: “Our collaboration with UCB, a global leader in the field of antibody engineering, has been an important contribution to the commercialization of RAP technology. We are delighted to announce the installation of a RAP·id 4 instrument in their facility and look forward to continuing our close relationship in the future.”