Charles River Laboratories International Inc. has launched the Retrogenix Non-Human Protein Library, which is designed to help biopharmaceutical clients assess off-target binding to a non-human proteome to de-risk in vivo studies and aid in non-human species selection.
 
“Developed in-house using the innovative and unique Retrogenix platform, the new library provides early insights into how therapeutics interact with non-human protein targets in vitro,” said Aidan Synnott, Ph.D., Corporate Vice President, Global Discovery. “These early insights are generated without the lead time and expense associated with ex vivo tissue or in vivo research model studies, allowing clients to progress to safety studies, clinical trials, and IND applications with highly relevant data and increased confidence.”
 
Confirming whether potential off-targets are conserved across species increases the interpretability of in vivo results and ultimately reduces risk by ensuring safety studies are conducted in an appropriate model from the outset. In addition to offering the non-human protein library, Charles River can also screen observed human off-targets against any suitable non-human homologous proteins to help inform next steps for client drug development.

Screening for Off-Target Effects

The Retrogenix platform offers the industry’s largest library of human proteins overexpressed in human cells, with over 6,500 human plasma membrane and secreted protein clones, providing a unique screening tool for discovering primary target receptors and reliably assessing potential off-target binding issues. With the new non-human protein library, Charles River is building on the Retrogenix platform’s established technology, helping clients ensure they have the right models selected prior to beginning in vivo studies, saving time and helping deliver safer, more effective drugs.
 
Off-target screening is an established part of the IND submission process and is traditionally performed using tissue cross reactivity (TCR) studies. Data from the Retrogenix platform has become an established complementary or alternative data point across multiple modalities, therapeutic areas, and with international regulatory agencies.
 
“The integration of the Retrogenix Non-Human Protein Library into our drug discovery portfolio enhances the precision and effectiveness of lead candidate selection,” added Professor Julie Frearson, Ph.D., Corporate Senior Vice President & Chief Scientific Officer. “Technology is a cornerstone of innovation, and as we continue to drive forward change in drug development, these innovations allow us to refine our use of research models while supporting the discovery of novel medicines.”

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