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Spotlight on SAPA-China: Viva Biotech Showcases Cutting-Edge Technologies in V-DEL Platform and Antibody Drug Development
Time: 2024-10-30
Source: Viva Biotech
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[Abstract]:Dr. Han Dai, Chief Innovation Officer of Viva Biotech and Head of Viva BioInnovator, Dr. Bing Xia, Vice President and Head of the Early Drug Discovery Platforms, and Dr. Xinyu Deng, Vice President of Biologics and Head of the Biologics Drug Discovery Platform, representing the company and sharing valuable insights with the audience.

On October 18-19, 2024, the SAPA-China 2024 Annual Conference was held in Suzhou. The conference gathered industry experts to delve into hot topics involve large/small molecules, cell and gene therapy (CGT), AI-powered drug discovery, nucleic acids, GLP-1 and metabolic research, clinical advancements, radionuclide drug conjugates (RDC), global collaborations, and investment trends. As a leading one-stop CRO/CDMO service company, Viva Biotech was invited to participate. Dr. Han Dai, Chief Innovation Officer of Viva Biotech and Head of Viva BioInnovator, Dr. Bing Xia, Vice President and Head of the Early Drug Discovery Platforms, and Dr. Xinyu Deng, Vice President of Biologics and Head of the Biologics Drug Discovery Platform, representing the company and sharing valuable insights with the audience.

 

Probing Chemical Space for Modality Assessment and Target Triage: SM and Beyond

 

Dr. Bing Xia, Vice President and Head of the Early Drug Discovery at Viva Biotech attended the SAPA-China 2024 Annual Conference, delivered a keynote speech titled “Probing Chemical Space for Modality Assessment and Target Triage: SM and Beyond.” Dr. Xia showcased Viva Biotech's innovative solution in the field of DNA-Encoded Compound Library (DEL) technology.

 

Dr. Bing Xia, Vice President and Head of Early Discovery Platforms at Viva Biotech

 

Dr. Bing Xia emphasized some significant advantages of DNA-Encoded Library (DEL) technology over the traditional high-throughput screening (HTS). DEL technology eliminates the "experiment per well" and "cost per well" constraints by employing a “screening billions of compounds in a single tube” model, dramatically enhancing efficiency and significantly reducing costs. Its affinity-based screening method allows successful screening even with limited information of the target. Most notably, the “split and pool” combination of diverse chemical libraries results in an exponential increase in compound diversity, offering far greater exploration of chemical space.

 

Leveraging these technological advantages, Viva Biotech has developed the innovative V-DEL platform, which integrates over a hundred diverse libraries, including covalent libraries, molecular glue libraries, fragment libraries, and more. Powered by an AI-driven evaluation system, the platform can customize screening solutions tailored to clients' specific research needs and assesses optimal options.

 

High Quality V-DEL Libraries

 

In terms of technological innovation, Viva Biotech has made significant progress in developing a cyclic peptide library. Dr. Xia shared a case where cyclic peptide synthesis, using the V-DEL platform to screen a target, produced remarkable results. While this target showed average performance with conventional libraries, it excelled in the cyclic peptide library. Further validation confirmed these findings. Dr. Xia noted that Viva Biotech has successfully developed the first generation cyclic peptide library constructed using click chemistry, with a capacity of 160 million compounds. Each cyclic peptide consists of 4-12 amino acids, with approximately 90% being non-natural amino acids, enhancing the library’s diversity. During the cyclic peptide library design process, Viva Biotech implemented several innovative strategies. The team worked closely with the AIDD/CADD platform to optimize the library's design and synthesis. AI-powered screening identified the best combinations of non-natural amino acids from a large-scale compound collection. Candidate compounds underwent multi-dimensional evaluations, including configuration analysis and physicochemical property predictions. A standout innovation was the development of a "Hit Expansion" strategy. This new approach optimizes structures directly at the DNA-encoded level, enabling both optimization and screening to be completed in 2-3 weeks, significantly improving research efficiency.

 

Case Study: AI Powered Cyclic Peptide V-DELs Synthesis

 

In terms of service model innovation, Dr. Xia illustrated Viva Biotech's one-stop service concept by referencing the healthcare triage system in the U.S. DEL technology acts as the "family doctor" for preliminary screening, after which projects are treated immediately or referred to other technology platforms based on specific needs. Viva Biotech generates 200-300 new drug targets each year, researches over 6,000 protein constructs, and analyzes more than 16,000 protein structures annually, forming a comprehensive service system that integrates DEL screening, structural biology, and other platforms.

 

Additionally, Dr. Xia introduced Viva Biotech's innovative approach of combining Cryo-EM technology with V-DEL platform. Cryo-EM serves as a QC method to confirm protein conformations, enabling the team to select the most suitable conformations for DEL screening. Although data from this innovative approach is still being collected, the success of existing cases has already demonstrated its feasibility. Dr. Xia emphasized that Viva Biotech's Shanghai site has established a complete technical ecosystem from DEL screening to protein structure analysis, providing clients with comprehensive innovative support from target validation to lead compound discovery.

 

SAPA Startup and Investment Forum – Startup Roadshow

 

Dr. Han Dai, Chief Innovation Officer of Viva Biotech and Head of Viva BioInnovator

 

Dr. Han Dai, as the organizer and host of the Startup Roadshow at the SAPA Startup and Investment Forum, delivered an inspiring opening speech. The roadshow showcased diverse projects spanning multiple therapeutic areas, advanced drug pipelines, and innovative platform technologies. Dr. Dai posed industry-relevant questions to presenters, emphasizing key technical and strategic considerations. He expressed that the forum would provide valuable insights and funding opportunities for startups, encouraging participants to make the most of this opportunity for meaningful exchanges and partnerships.

 

New Trends in Antibody Drug Development and Global Collaboration Opportunities

 

Dr. Xinyu Deng was invited to moderate the roundtable discussion titled “New Trends in Antibody Drug Development and Global Collaboration Opportunities”. In this session, Dr. Deng and other panelists shared insights on cutting-edge technologies and emerging trends in antibody drug development, including the innovative bispecific antibody technologies from Elpiscience and EpimAb Biotherapeutics, breakthroughs in antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), advancements in process optimization, and the progress of domestic alternatives. The panel also discussed the role of AI and big data in drug discovery, addressing the potential and challenges these technologies bring to the field. Dr. Deng led discussions on the benefits and drawbacks of internal R&D versus external collaborations, sharing experiences and addressing challenges faced in international licensing. The panel also analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of Chinese antibody drug companies in the global market context. Concluding the session, participants provided valuable suggestions on how domestic and international policies impact innovative drug development and globalization. This insightful discussion provided a forward-looking perspective on advancing the field.

 

Firs from left:Dr. Xinyu Deng

 

During the exhibition, the Viva Biotech's team warmly welcomed attendees at the both, sharing in-depth discussions experience in innovative drug R&D and manufacturing. The team showcased a range of cutting-edge technology platforms, including AIDD/CADD, XDC technology, PROTAC/molecular glue platforms, protein production and structural research, membrane protein research, cryo-EM, drug screening, bioassay, DMPK, and therapeutic antibody discovery. These platforms demonstrated Viva Biotech’s innovative capabilities in biopharmaceutical R&D. We anticipate future industry events, where we can collaborate with more partners to explore emerging trends and drive advancements in global pharmaceutical innovation.

 

Media contact: vivapr@vivabiotech.com
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