The project will bring an enabling platform technology that has been previously developed in 2012 TSB-funded feasibility study, to demonstrator stage. The demonstrator will address an unmet need in biopharmaceutical manufacturing industry, namely a cost-effective, user-friendly, automated system that will allow rapid screening for protein interaction leading to aggregation in formulated biopharmaceuticals. In the proposed project, the platform technology will be thoroughly validated with relevant materials and the data will be vigorously examined through direct comparison to published and orthogonal data. The screening process will be further optimized to bring further reduction in cost and waste in materials and resource. User groups will be established for feedbacks in software design and hardware requirements. The project will result in a validated demonstrator that will be used by the lead company to attract further investment to take the product to market.

The advance in protein-based biopharmaceuticals represents the most innovative and lucrative development in the pharmaceutical industry. Treatment with mAbs has evolved from former high mortality diseases like cancer into modern day chronic illness, including Alzheimer’s disease, lupus, diabetes and chronic pain. With the increased need for biopharmaceutical products, protein aggregation (sticking together) due to protein self-interaction remains a enormous challenge in formulation. Our proposed feasibility study addresses the need for a cost-effective, user-friendly, automated platform technology that allows rapid screening for protein self-interactions. The successful development and commercialisation of our proposed platform technology will not only bring substantial cost savings to the pharmaceutical industry but also has the potential to free up hospital resource and improve patient experience by adopting innovative drug delivery systems.