Custom development of murine monoclonal antibodies
Agro-Bio provides custom monoclonal antibody development in mouse models to support research and innovation in life sciences. Our experienced scientific team designs every project in collaboration with the client, from antigen design and immunization strategy to clone selection and cell banking. Our objective is to ensure antibodies meeting the exact experimental needs. This collaborative approach enables us to deliver high-quality, specific, and reproducible monoclonal antibodies, ready for applications in research, diagnostics, and assay development.
Why choose Agro-Bio for your monoclonal antibody development?
- Over 50 years of expertise in immunology
- A new hybridoma technology single-cell cloning
- Proven experience with complex or low-immunogenic antigens (hormones, peptides, haptens, small molecules)
- Scientific consulting from project definition to delivery
- Custom immunization protocols adapted to the antigen type
- Tailored screening assays (ELISA, Western blot, Biacore™, cell-based formats, etc.)
- In-house hybridoma generation and long-term cell banking
- Full data transparency and client ownership of all clones and antibodies
- Fast and flexible workflow adapted to research timelines
How do we work?
A 4-step workflow for the development of murine monoclonal antibodies
Immunization
Choice of tailor made protocol according to project goals.
Optimization of adjuvants and conjugation to enhance antigen presentation.
Cell fusion and hybridoma generation
Fusion of splenocytes with myeloma cells and selective HAT culture to obtain stable hybrid clones.
Screening and selection
High-throughput and custom screening assays (ELISA, Western blot, FACS, Biacore™ SPR, functional assays) to identify clones of interest.
Expansion and cryopreservation
Selected clones are expanded, characterized (isotyping, affinity), and preserved in Agro-Bio's secure cell bank.
Deliverables and typical turnaround
Once the optimal hybridomas are selected, Agro-Bio delivers a full analytical package including:
- Supernatant and/or purified antibody (up to grams)
- Screening and characterization report
- Cryopreserved hybridoma cells (master cell bank)
- Certificate of analysis
Total timeline: 12-15 weeks depending on antigen complexity.
Development planning and project milestones
Our development planning follows the structured workflow detailed in the diagram below, ensuring full traceability and decision-making checkpoints at every phase. It summarizes the 4 main phases of Agro-Bio's monoclonal antibody development process, from immunization to production.
High-throughput single-cell cloning technology
Our automated platform integrates fluorescence-based detection, robotic single-cell picking, and real-time monitoring of antibody secretion.
Enables direct cloning after fusion, reducing development time by half
Ensures monoclonality and high productivity
Provides early affinity ranking by Biacore™ SPR
With this approach we reduce significantly the timeframe of the project and we select the best binders
Applications
Basic and applied immunology research
Analytical method development (PK, ADA, NAb assays)
Diagnostic and immunoassay design
Antigen or biomarker detection
Functional blocking or neutralization studies
Comparative studies (species cross-reactivity, biosimilarity, etc.)
A proven approach to hybridoma success
Hybridoma technology remains one of the most robust and reliable ways to generate monoclonal antibodies.
At Agro-Bio, each project benefits from decades of know-how in immunization design, screening strategy, and clone stabilization, ensuring reproducibility and continuity for all downstream experiments.
Case Study: Generating anti-idiotypic monoclonal antibodies for bioanalysis assays
In a collaborative study presented at EBF 2023, Agro-Bio developed a panel of murine anti-idiotypic monoclonal antibodies to serve as critical reagents for ligand-binding and pharmacokinetic assays.
Through an optimized hybridoma process, combining tailored immunization and efficient screening, Agro-Bio produced high-affinity and highly specific clones suitable for quantitative bioassays.
Key Results:
95% batch-to-batch reproducibility between antibody batches
High-affinity clones (KD < 10⁻⁹ M, confirmed by Biacore™ SPR)
Anti-Idiotypic clones with neutralizing abilities
No cross-reactivity detected in human serum
This project demonstrates Agro-Bio's ability to translate research needs into reliable analytical reagents, combining expertise in antibody generation and affinity characterization.
To learn more about this project and its results, receive the full EBF 2023 poster !
For detailed affinity and kinetics characterization, explore also our Biacore™ Affinity Analysis service
You have an antigen or a research project in mind? Contact our experts to discuss your monoclonal antibody development.
FAQ
How long does a monoclonal antibody development project take?
Typical development time is 12 to 15 weeks, depending on the antigen type and the screening strategy. Complex projects (low-immunogenic antigens, cell-based assays, or functional screenings) may require additional optimization phases.
Which types of antigens can Agro-Bio work with?
Agro-Bio routinely develops monoclonal antibodies against a wide range of antigens, including proteins, peptides, hormones, chemical molecules, haptens, and conjugates.
To enhance immune response, our scientists can perform antigen conjugation (e.g., to KLH, BSA, OVA) or use optimized adjuvant protocols.
Do clients retain ownership of the hybridoma clones?
Yes. Agro-Bio operates on a fee-for-service model, meaning clients retain full ownership of the hybridoma clones, antibodies, and related data generated during the project.
Cryopreserved cell banks are securely stored, and clones can be delivered upon request.
In what format are antibodies delivered?
Depending on project goals, Agro-Bio can deliver:
- Culture supernatants for early testing,
- Purified monoclonal antibodies (via Protein A/G or affinity chromatography),
- Cryopreserved hybridoma cells for long-term use and further production.
All deliverables include a technical report and certificate of analysis.
Can Agro-Bio assist with downstream characterization (affinity, specificity, isotyping)?
Absolutely. Agro-Bio offers a full range of characterization services, including:
- Affinity and kinetics analysis by Biacore™ SPR,
- Isotyping and purity checks,
- Cross-reactivity and functional testing upon request.
This integrated approach helps researchers fully characterize their antibodies without managing multiple providers.
