Berkeley Lights Launches Opto Plasma B Discovery 4.0 to Accelerate Therapeutic Antibody Discovery Against Difficult Targets

Rhea-AI Summary

Berkeley Lights, Inc. (Nasdaq: BLI) has launched the Opto Plasma B Discovery 4.0 workflow, enhancing antibody discovery by enabling the transition from B cells to lead molecules in just one week. This advanced workflow allows customers to sample up to 100,000 cells, conduct sensitive cell-based assays, and recover sequences without costly synthesis. It targets complex molecules like GPCRs and Ion Channels. With rapid re-expression of over a thousand antibodies in a week, it reduces associated costs and labor. CEO Eric Hobbs stated that this development meets urgent customer demands in therapeutic discovery.

Positive

• Launch of Opto Plasma B Discovery 4.0 enhances antibody discovery timeframe.
• Ability to sample 4x more relevant biodiversity by screening up to 100,000 cells.
• Reduces costs and labor associated with gene synthesis and bacterial cloning.
• Increases probability of success against hard-to-hit targets such as GPCRs and Ion Channels.

Negative

• None.

EMERYVILLE, Calif., Jan. 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Berkeley Lights, Inc. (Nasdaq: BLI), a leader in Digital Cell Biology, today announced the Opto™ Plasma B Discovery 4.0 workflow. Opto Plasma B Discovery 4.0 is the industry’s premier antibody discovery workflow by advancing from B cells to lead molecules in just 1 week.

This workflow enables our customers to:

• Sample 4x more of the relevant biodiversity, screening up to 100,000 cells
• Functionally test with highly sensitive cell-based assays
• Recover not only sequences, but also re-expressed molecules without requiring costly gene synthesis and bacterial cloning
• Increase the probability of success against hard-to-hit targets such as GPCRs and Ion Channels

By leveraging our proprietary OptoSeq™ Barcoded BCR, we enable rapid, accurate sequencing of paired heavy/light chain antibody genes by DNA fragmentation, NGS sequencing, and bioinformatics analysis. Additionally, Opto BCR Rapid Re-expression can be leveraged to rapidly re-express over one thousand antibodies in just one week to confirm their function in plate-based assays, reducing the cost and labor associated with gene synthesis and bacterial cloning.

“Our customers are facing great challenges today, trying to find therapeutics against very difficult targets such as GPCRs for cancer and neurological disorders, while working under extreme timeline pressure. Opto Plasma B Discovery 4.0 workflow is a game changer,” said Eric Hobbs, Ph.D., CEO of Berkeley Lights. “In 1 week from a sera positive mouse, our customers can now discover and advance lead molecules for hard-to-hit targets in one integrated workflow on the Berkeley Lights Beacon system. In addition to re-expressed molecules, we also provide sequences to our customers for further acceleration of these candidates to market by immediately initiating antibody engineering and cell line development efforts.”

About Berkeley Lights
Berkeley Lights is a leading Digital Cell Biology company focused on enabling and accelerating the rapid development and commercialization of biotherapeutics and other cell-based products for our customers. The Berkeley Lights Platform captures deep phenotypic, functional and genotypic information for thousands of single cells in parallel and can also deliver the live biology customers desire in the form of the best cells. Our platform is a fully integrated, end-to-end solution, comprising proprietary consumables, including our OptoSelect™ chips and reagent kits, advanced automation systems, and application software. We developed the Berkeley Lights Platform to provide the most advanced environment for rapid functional characterization of single cells at scale, the goal of which is to establish an industry standard for our customers throughout their cell-based product value chain.

Berkeley Lights’ Beacon^® and Lightning™ systems and Culture Station™ instrument are FOR RESEARCH USE ONLY. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

Forward-Looking Statements
To the extent that statements contained in this press release are not descriptions of historical facts regarding Berkeley Lights or its products, they are forward-looking statements reflecting the current beliefs and expectations of management. Such forward-looking statements involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties that relate to future events, and actual results and product performance could differ significantly from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Berkeley Lights undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. For a further description of the risks and uncertainties relating to the Company’s products, including the performance of Company workflows such as the Opto Plasma B Discovery 4.0 workflow, see the statements in the "Risk Factors" sections, and elsewhere, in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Press Contact
berkeleylights@bulleitgroup.com

Investor Contact
ir@berkeleylights.com

FAQ

What is the new workflow introduced by Berkeley Lights on January 12, 2021?

The new workflow is called Opto Plasma B Discovery 4.0, designed to enhance antibody discovery.

How quickly can Berkeley Lights' Opto Plasma B Discovery 4.0 workflow advance from B cells to lead molecules?

The workflow can advance from B cells to lead molecules in just one week.

What are the key capabilities of the Opto Plasma B Discovery 4.0 workflow?

It allows sampling of up to 100,000 cells, functionally testing with sensitive assays, and recovering sequences without costly processes.

Which difficult targets can the Opto Plasma B Discovery 4.0 workflow successfully target?

It is designed to increase the probability of success against challenging targets such as GPCRs and Ion Channels.

What does CEO Eric Hobbs say about the challenges faced by customers?

Eric Hobbs stated that customers are facing significant challenges in finding therapeutics against difficult targets under tight timelines.