Scientific notes
Straight answers to the questions we are asked most often about de novo VHH design, patent freedom to operate, antibody formats and developability. Written by our scientific team, updated as the field moves.
Our target is covered by a patent. Can we design a different binder against the same epitope?
In most cases yes. Patents claim sequences, not epitopes. We start from the antibody you already know and redesign around it, keeping the binding mode while moving the sequence away from the claims.
Read the noteHow do I develop a nanobody against an epitope already claimed by a competitor's patent?
The practical route, step by step: epitope and framework analysis, sequence redesign, developability filtering and wet-lab validation. What belongs to your patent attorney, and what belongs to us.
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VHH, scFv or IgG: which format should I choose for my application?
Size, tissue penetration, half-life, production cost and epitope access compared side by side, with the application each format actually suits.
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Why do antibody programs fail before they reach the clinic?
Two filters, and they are not the same. Binding removes the volume, developability removes fewer candidates but far later and at much greater cost. Only the second one is largely avoidable.
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