AbCellera Biologics Inc. is a Canadian biotechnology company specializing in antibody discovery and development. The company was founded in 2012 in Vancouver, British Columbia, by Dr. Carl Hansen, Dr. Véronique Lecault, and Dr. Kevin Heyries. The founding team aimed to revolutionize the process of discovering therapeutic antibodies using advanced technology.
AbCellera's core focus is on leveraging artificial intelligence, microfluidics, and high-throughput screening to identify and isolate naturally occurring antibodies from a vast array of biological samples, such as blood samples from recovering patients or immunized animals. The company's proprietary technology enables the rapid discovery of therapeutic antibodies, potentially leading to the development of treatments for various diseases, including infectious diseases, cancer, and autoimmune disorders.
One of AbCellera's significant achievements was its collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company in the discovery of bamlanivimab, a monoclonal antibody therapy for the treatment of COVID-19. The partnership was instrumental in identifying and developing this potential treatment, which received emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in late 2020.
AbCellera continues to expand its capabilities and technology platform to discover new and innovative antibody-based therapies. With a strong commitment to scientific innovation and strategic partnerships, the company aims to address unmet medical needs and advance the development of cutting-edge biologics for the benefit of patients worldwide.