ImQuest BioSciences provides expertise in early to late-stage preclinical protein drug development from protein expression and optimization to purification protocol design through to analytical and bioanalytical characterizations and formulation . Our core services in biochemistry and enzymology provide cross-platform support for our infectious disease, microbiology, cell biology, cancer, and immunology programs. In addition, we extend this expertise to services for individualized and custom projects.
With a fully outfitted core biochemistry and immunology laboratory facility we are capable of providing services covering the following functions:
Protein Production: We can perform, develop, and/or optimize the cloning, expression, and purification of your protein or peptide drug, including process development and optimization. We can aid in the design of your protein or peptide in order to increase expression levels, increase potency, increase stability, and/or decrease heterogeneity.
Protein Analytical Services: We can develop the necessary methods to analyze your protein or peptide. We can analyze the purity and identity of your protein (1D and 2D SDS-PAGE, IEF, chromatofocusing, FPLC/HPLC, Western blotting, ELISA); perform preformulation and protein stability studies (pH and ionic strength, buffer and excipient compatibility, forced degradation and stability); perform activity analyses using bioassays or enzymatic assays (cell- or non cell-based); complete other biochemical and biophysical analyses
Protein Bioanalytical Services: We can analyze your protein using immunoassays, detection of immunogenicity and/or neutralizing antibodies, or use other assays as customized to your development needs.
Protein Therapeutic Support: ImQuest can support the development of your protein drug from discovery to the late-stage preclinical phase, aiding in project progression and IND submission using ICH Guidelines and FDA Points to Consider.
Enzymology: Core enzymology capabilities provide quantitative determination of kinetic parameters for substrates and inhibitors. We can analyze your enzyme inhibitor in simple screens for potency, or we can kinetically determine the inhibition constant (Ki) and type of inhibition in vitro. The effect of an inhibitor on the kinetic parameters of the enzyme (KM, Vmax, kcat) can also be analyzed. Our standard and customized enzymatic assays can be performed with wild type or resistant enzymes. Assays can be tailored and optimized to meet specific development needs.
Standard Antiviral Enzyme Assays: We will perform standard antiviral enzyme assays to analyze the potency of your drug against viral enzymes, such as reverse transcriptase, integrase, protease, RNase H, and polymerases. We can analyze the potency of your drug against wild-type or drug-resistant viral enzymes in vitro with purified components or in cell-based antiviral assays.
Host Cell Polymerase Assays: We will perform standard polymerase assays to aid in the prediction of cellular toxicity.
Assay Development and Optimization: We can develop or optimize your enzyme assay, and customize our analyses to meet your project needs.
Drug Development Support: ImQuest can support the development of your drug substance or drug product from discovery to late stage preclinical phases, aiding in project progression and IND submission using ICH Guidelines and FDA Points to Consider.