The Jackson Laboratory Expands Partnership with Rockland and antibodies-online to Exclusively Offer Highly Characterized FcRn Antibodies for the Assessment of Therapeutic Drugs
LIMERICK, Pa .— The Jackson Laboratory (JAX) has provided exclusive access to highly characterized Fc neonatal receptor (FcRn) clones to be manufactured by Rockland Immunochemicals, Inc. (Rockland) and distributed via antibodies-online GmbH (ABO). The ADM31 and DVN24 clones were specifically chosen due to their high specificity to human FcRn and their ability to block human serum albumin or human IgG binding respectively. The antibodies produced from these clones have proven to be invaluable tools for autoimmune disease research and enhancing the pharmacokinetics of IgG-based therapeutics.
FcRn is a neonatal receptor that binds to the Fc portion of IgGs and protects them from intracellular degradation, thereby maintaining the levels of IgG in circulation. FcRn antibodies can be used to increase the half-life of therapeutic antibodies, and in so doing, improve the efficacy of treatments and reduce the cost for patients. Many therapeutic antibodies belong to the IgG class and so understanding how IgG levels are maintained in circulation is critical for determining their stability in the body. Additionally, targeting FcRn expression and function can provide a better therapeutic option for antibody-mediated autoimmune diseases and potentially disrupt the balance supporting cancer cell survival and proliferation.
The ADM31 and DVN24 clones were developed alongside a panel of highly specific monoclonal antibodies by Derry Roopenian, Ph.D. and members of his lab at JAX to solve the need for reliable reagents capable of detecting human FcRn and examining its biological function in normal and pathological states. Rigorous characterization of these clones allowed for the exploration of binding sites, binding kinetics, species cross-reactivities, and applications both in vitro and in vivo. The results of the characterization showed DVN24 was the most effective inhibitor of human IgG binding to FcRn, whereas ADM31 most efficiently blocked HSA while maintaining IgG binding.
“Our partnership with Rockland and antibodies-online will significantly expand the manufacture and distribution of these highly characterized FcRn clones," said Aubrey Watkins III, Ph.D., M.S., David Shaw Family Endowed Vice President of Corporate Development at JAX. "These clones, which were developed through foundational research at JAX, will provide researchers with essential new tools to develop cost-effective therapies for autoimmune diseases and other IgG-based treatments, advancing both scientific understanding and patient care."
By allowing exclusive access to these highly characterized clones, this partnership utilizes the antibody development expertise and manufacturing capabilities at Rockland to support the high demand of these reagents. Rockland’s ability to scale production and meet strict quality requirements ensures a secure supply throughout therapeutic antibody development. Additionally, the global distribution capabilities of ABO provides scientists easy and efficient access to these reagents in every place scientists are developing meaningful solutions for the detection and treatment of disease.
About Rockland Immunochemicals, Inc.
Established in 1962, Rockland is a global biotechnology company manufacturing leading-edge tools for basic, applied, and clinical research for academic, biopharma, diagnostic, and agbio industries. Rockland is a privately held company, operating facilities with antibody and protein production capabilities near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Learn more about Rockland at www.rockland.com.
About antibodies-online GmbH
antibodies-online is a global e-commerce, life science company serving the most exacting scientists and companies to advance scientific achievements important to the health and welfare of people around the world. Since its founding in Aachen, Germany, in 2006, antibodies-online is dedicated to the delivery of the best products available for every demanding project. Learn more about antibodies-online at www.antibodies-online.com.
About The Jackson Laboratory
The Jackson Laboratory is an independent, nonprofit biomedical research institution with a National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center and more than 3,000 employees in locations across the United States, Japan, and China. Its mission is to discover precise genomic solutions for disease and empower the global biomedical community in the shared quest to improve human health. For more information, please visit www.jax.org.