Ankyrons®: Unlocking Challenging Protein Targets with Precision and Speed

The identification of novel and complex protein targets in drug discovery increasingly exposes the limitations of conventional antibody generation, particularly for targets that are poorly immunogenic or structurally challenging. These challenges can delay target validation and introduce risk into early-stage development. Ankyrons are engineered recombinant binding proteins (~15 kDa) designed to overcome these constraints, providing high-affinity, target-specific reagents in a rapid and scalable format.

Selected from ProImmune’s highly diverse TeraLibrary™ (~10¹² variants) using ribosome display, Ankyrons enable fully in vitro, high-throughput binder generation without the need for immunising animals. This allows accelerated targeting of difficult or novel antigens, including pathogen-derived proteins and emerging therapeutic targets, supporting faster progression from target identification to functional validation.

Their small size and robust biophysical properties offer advantages in tissue penetration and epitope accessibility. Ankyrons are readily deployable alongside antibodies across standard assay platforms including flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, Western Blot, ELISA immunohistochemistry and more. They can be engineered into multivalent or multispecific formats to support more complex assay designs and therapeutic hypotheses.

For drug developers, Ankyrons provide a flexible and cost-effective solution for de-risking early discovery by enabling precise epitope mapping, target engagement studies, and biomarker assay development. Their applicability across multiple species also supports translational studies and cross-species validation strategies.

In this presentation, we will present case studies illustrating how Ankyrons® have been applied to previously intractable targets, accelerating target validation, informing candidate selection, and supporting downstream assay development. Attendees will gain practical insight into integrating Ankyrons® into drug discovery workflows to enhance speed, confidence, and decision-making.

Edmund Neo is the Immunology Sales Manager at ProImmune, based in Singapore, where he oversees the company’s activities across the Asia-Pacific region. He graduated from the National University of Singapore and began his career at Abbott Laboratories, conducting research on the impact of mineral fortification on the aggregation of dairy proteins.

Since joining ProImmune in 2019, Edmund has been instrumental in supporting both academic and industry partners in addressing immunological challenges associated with biologics and therapeutic development. Through close collaboration with clients, he has contributed to advancing research strategies and enabling successful outcomes across a diverse range of projects. His work focuses on bridging scientific insight with practical application to support innovation in immunology and drug development.