With chickens and rabbits using similar mechanisms for generating diversity using gene conversion and the rabbits adding somatic hypermutation, these two will make a powerful force in generating some amazing therapeutic mabs that interact with epitopes that mice and human mabs won’t touch.

The number of validated targets for antibodies in human disease is approaching 500 and there are countless others yet to be validated or discovered. New antibody technologies that have arrived in the pacific NW starting with Alder and Spaltudaq (Theraclone) to North Coast Bio and Xori, have emerged as companies that have a unique opportunity to capitalize on some amazing technology all while reducing the cost of discovery, manufacturing, and increasing the efficiency and quality of this class of drug. If the cost of discovery can be lowered to the degree where emesis is not the response from investors, perhaps we can take advantage of this unique situation by creating small armies (companies) to take on the list of known targets, discover new ones, and create our own antibody hub here in Seattle.

Seattle – the new home of antibody Farmaceuticals