Home Sponsored Advertorial: Advanced BioScience Laboratories (ABL)

Advertorial: Advanced BioScience Laboratories (ABL)

October 1, 2013

October 1, 2013 (Vol. 33, No. 17)

Groundbreaking Solutions in Biomedical Research and Manufacturing

ABL is a contract research and manufacturing service provider, specializing in the development of vaccines and biotherapeutics for preclinical and clinical studies. For more than 50 years, the discoveries made in ABL’s laboratories have offered insights into the workings of the immune system and the pathogenesis of some of the most complex and daunting diseases.

In collaboration with Dr. Robert Gallo in the 1970s, scientists at ABL (then called Litton Bionetics) isolated and characterized interleukin 2 (IL-2 ). In the 1980s, the first known human retroviruses (HTLV-I and HTLV-II) and the human B cell leukemia virus (HHV-6) were isolated and characterized at ABL. ABL scientists were also part of the team that co-discovered HIV-1 and developed the first HIV-1 ELISA-based diagnostic blood test.

Over the last 30 years, ABL scientists have developed assays and in vivo models to evaluate immune responses in clinical and preclinical settings. To evaluate human and animal samples, ABL has developed humoral and cellular assays to measure immunogenicity, molecular assays aimed at measuring drug and vaccine efficacy, and assays to quantify biomarkers of diseases such as dengue, cancer, and HIV.

Over the last 15 years, ABL has enhanced capabilities in cGMP biopharmaceutical production for the development and production of vaccines, such as DNA prime/boost vaccines, and therapeutics aimed at the prevention and treatment of a wide variety of diseases including cardiovascular disease, cancer, filovirus infection, plague, and other infectious diseases. Today, ABL draws from its decades of experience with diverse product types applying proven scientific techniques and protocols to drive innovative development and discovery.

Markets Served

ABL has an international client base and long-term relationships with government, academic, nonprofit, and commercial research groups developing vaccines and therapeutics against a wide range of diseases including HIV, dengue, tuberculosis, malaria, cancer, and influenza. ABL works with industry and academic researchers to take their products from the very earliest stages of development through preclinical testing to clinical production and immunomonitoring.

In response to client needs, ABL custom-built a new headquarters facility in 2011, housing expanded cGMP manufacturing suites and R&D laboratories. Recently, ABL has also developed assays to characterize the immune response of products in Phase I and II human clinical trials. With a comprehensive service portfolio, ABL offers integrated product development solutions for a broad customer base throughout the product development lifecycle.

ABL’s industry clients range from small biotechnology and start-up companies to Big Pharma. ABL also currently manages more than $300 million in prime contracts for the federal government. Numerous contracts run by ABL are funded by the NIH and DOD through either prime awards or subcontracts from industry clients. ABL collaborates with dozens of academic institutions around the globe, has relationships with international government agencies, and works with many nonprofits, such as PATH and the Gates Foundation, in their efforts to eradicate diseases.

Capabilities

ABL’s contract research services include in vitro testing, assay development, in vivo testing, and GCLP clinical immunomonitoring. ABL’s scientists—including immunologists, molecular biologists, virologists, and veterinarians—have an average of 18 years of translational research experience. Our scientists routinely develop and execute cellular and molecular assays to measure efficacy and immunogenicity of vaccines and therapeutics, including ELISA, ELISpot, NASBA, RT-PCR, polychromatic flow cytometry, Luminex, BLI, among others. Our AAALAC-accredited BSL2 facility carries out preclinical studies for vaccines and therapeutics aimed at a wide range of diseases. Our lead scientists have served as Principal Investigators on many government and private contracts resulting in beneficial scientific discoveries and allowing many of our clients to reach IND submission.

ABL’s contract manufacturing services include cGMP cell banking, virus banking, process development, production of biologics for preclinical and clinical use, and fill-finish. ABL has a unique multiproduct facility with segregated suites for mammalian, microbial, or vaccine production. Our dedicated Quality Assurance, Regulatory, and cGMP Manufacturing staff have extensive backgrounds in upstream and downstream manufacturing and oversight of preclinical and clinical materials, both in the private sector and with federal regulatory agencies.