New Chemical Entity
While small molecules remain a mainstay, innovative drug discovery explores new frontiers like PROTACs and Molecular Glues.
Therapeutic Modalities
A Discovery Stage Focus that Charts Any Path
Meadowhawk Biolabs supports your R&D journey with expertise across new chemical entities, proteins, peptides, LNPs & more. From vivarium to data delivery, we accelerate your path to results.
Peptides / Proteins
These play various roles acting as enzymes, regulators, or targeted therapies (e.g. GLP-1).
Antibodies
Antibody therapies (mAbs) like Keytruda and Dupixent have been a mainstay since FDA approval in 1986, with over 100 drugs now on the market.
Biomarkers
A range of small and large molecules found in body fluid and tissues to indicate the states of well being, such as healthy vs disease as well treatment responses and off-target toxicities.
Drug Delivery and Lipid Nanoparticle (LNP)
A promising new class of delivery system, these nanoparticles contain lipid constituents that deliver mRNA, RNA, and DNA-based drugs directly into cells for targeted treatment.
Nucleic Acids & Oligonucleotides
Offering a revolutionary approach to medicine, these molecules target specific genes or proteins to treat the diseases (e.g. use of mRNA technology in COVID-19 vaccines).
Beyond Antibodies
The expanding universe of therapeutic modalities.
Fueled by breakthroughs in biology, chemistry, and immunology, interdisciplinary research is yielding a new wave of drug modalities, including antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), CAR T-cell therapies, and CAR NK-cell therapies.
New Chemical Entity Drug Development
Meadowhawk unlocks new avenues in drug discovery, supporting traditional new chemical entities as drug candidates and innovative molecules. We tailor a tiered approach using diagnostic probes to ensure better quality data and a streamlined approach. For small molecules, we combine efficacy studies with PK/dosing data to guide safe and effective development. Our expertise extends to supporting dose tolerability studies.
Working with companies that strive to improve drug delivery and PK disposition, Meadowhawk has extensive experience with “different variants” of traditional small organic molecules, such as pro-drug types and PROTAC types. Utilizing highly sensitive API 7500, we analyze not only the pro-drug/PROTAC themselves but also potential metabolites and biomarkers, giving researchers a complete picture that empowers their R&D journey.
Peptides / Proteins
Peptides and proteins are two classes of drug modalities demanding tailored analyses due to their size and complexity. LC-MS excels for peptides, identifying sequences and quantifying them in biological samples. Techniques like PPT, SLE, and SPE enable multiplex peptide analysis in various matrices.
Immunoassays are the gold standard for proteins due to their specificity and sensitivity, requiring specific antibodies and detecting low concentrations quickly.
For ultimate selectivity and speed, a hybrid approach can be superior. Immunocapture isolates the protein of interest, followed by LC-MS analysis of signature peptides for definitive identification and quantification.
Understanding these unique characteristics and choosing the right technique (LC-MS, immunoassay, or hybrid) empowers researchers with critical insights into biotherapeutic behavior and efficacy.
Antibodies
Our scientists utilize their extensive expertise to address antibody drug development challenges. Antibodies, as predominant protein-based therapeutics, bind specific targets to modulate cellular functions or deliver cytotoxic drugs (e.g., ADCs). Immunoassays are the gold standard for antibody bioanalysis.
Our in-house ELISA/MSD assays provide off-the-shelf quantification for early-stage antibody candidates, eliminating extensive method development. In collaboration with our rodent vivarium, we rapidly assess antibody exposure levels in various commercial rodent strains. Moreover, LC-MS with immunocapture and stable labeled peptides supports bioanalytical needs throughout antibody discovery and development
Biomarker Testing
By analyzing specific molecules (biomarkers) in the body, researchers can assess a drug’s efficacy, safety, and how it works (mechanism of action), providing valuable information that guides crucial “go/no go” decisions throughout the drug development process.
Our comprehensive biomarker analysis services cater to large molecules, small molecules, and other therapeutic modalities . We utilize a variety of advanced techniques, including LCMS (liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry), ligand-binding assays, cell-based assays, and flow cytometry, to measure a wide range of biomarkers. This allows us to provide valuable insights for both exploratory and lead optimization/IND-enabling stages of drug development.
Working closely with clients, our scientists design a “fit-for-purpose” approach, tailoring the biomarker analysis to the needs of each drug candidate. Additionally, our multiplexing capabilities allow for the simultaneous measurement of multiple biomarkers, offering a more comprehensive picture of a drug’s effects.
“On our business development team, I’m intrigued by the networking, collaboration, and the potential to have impact on our clients’ work. We treat our sponsor collaborations as though we are an extension of their research groups, which makes for a diverse work environment.”
Michael Flynn
Drug Delivery and Lipid Nanoparticle (LNP)
Drug delivery systems are crucial to getting medications where they need to go in the body. Traditional methods like liposomes and PEGylation have paved the way for more innovative approaches. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), GalNAc conjugates, and AAVs are being actively explored, particularly for delivering nucleic acid-based drugs like mRNA vaccines. The success of mRNA COVID vaccines showcases the power of LNPs stabilized with PEG. These LNPs are built with five key components: positively charged ionizable lipids, neutral ionizable lipids, phospholipids, cholesterol, and PEG-lipids.
LCMS is a powerful tool for evaluating the effectiveness of these delivery systems. It can measure the drug substance in various states – “free/released,” “intact total,” and “remaining” – to assess delivery efficiency. For LNPs, measuring levels of cationic components in the body after administration is important to understanding drug efficacy and safety based on distribution patterns.
Nucleic Acids
A new frontier in medicine is emerging with nucleic-acid based therapies. These therapies, like antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), and microRNAs (miRNAs), target the very genes responsible for disease. This approach has the potential to be highly specific, long-lasting, and even curative. For instance, ASOs can be customized by tweaking their chemical structure to optimize their effectiveness as drugs.
However, accurately measuring these therapies during development is crucial. Traditional methods like ELISA have limitations, while LCMS offers significant advantages. LCMS can not only measure intact oligonucleotide drugs, but also detect and quantify any broken-down fragments. This provides a more complete picture of the drug’s behavior in the body, making LCMS a powerful tool for researchers developing these innovative gene-based therapies.
Beyond Antibodies
The landscape of medicine is rapidly evolving. Beyond traditional drugs and antibodies, innovative therapies are reshaping treatment. Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) deliver potent drugs directly to diseased cells, minimizing side effects. At Meadowhawk, we are continuously adopting different technology platforms (building molecular detection tool suite, such as PCRs) and expanding capabilities (combining LCMS and Immunoanalytical) to solve new challenges, such as in-depth analysis of ADCs.
Beyond ADCs, the future holds immense promise. RNAi, bispecific antibodies, and CAR T-cell therapies target diseases with precision. Gene therapies and viral vectors offer new hope. Emerging frontiers include CAR-NK cells, oncolytic viruses, CRISPR gene editing, mRNA-based treatments, stem cell therapies, and microbiome manipulation. These advancements hold the potential to revolutionize healthcare and improve countless lives. We analyze ADCs using immunoassays and LCMS.