It starts with one question: what information must the assay reliably provide.
IRBM has developed and optimized biochemical and cell-based assays to support hit identification and lead optimization campaigns for multiple targets, across diverse therapeutic areas including oncology, antivirals, cardiovascular, neurodegeneration and rare diseases. The goal is to generate a measurable signal in response to a change in a biological system.
01
Define the biological question
What the assay has to answer, stated before any technology is chosen.
02
Identify the model and the technology
The biological system and detection methodology that best balance translational relevance with delivery timelines.
03
Validate and deliver
Deliver a robust, reliable, quality-controlled assay you can run with confidence in the data.
We use this information to design the best strategy for your target and program.
Biochemical and cell-based assays tailored, optimized, and qualified to deliver the insights your program depends on.
At IRBM we have developed and optimized a range of biochemical and cellular assays to critically assess how molecules affect biochemical pathways within cells and the interactions between cells.
Family 01
Biochemical
Enzymatic activity
Kinases, phosphatases, deacetylases, acetyl-transferases, metabolically active enzymes, deglycosylases, proteases, and more.
Protein-protein interactions
Including peptide-protein complexes and large macromolecular complexes.
Assay development goes beyond generating a signal. We characterize key kinetic and binding parameters, including Km, Vmax, and Kd, evaluate complex mechanisms such as covalent inhibition, and establish robust conditions that withstand routine profiling.
Family 02
Cell-based
Readout selection is driven by target proximity. Understanding how closely a readout reflects target modulation is critical to distinguishing direct compound effects from downstream biological consequences
How readouts are grouped by their distance from the target
Distance from the target shapes interpretation. Proximal readouts offer direct evidence of target modulation, while more distal, phenotype-associated readouts capture broader biological outcomes and require greater consideration of indirect effects. Select a tier to view the readouts.
Readouts
Target proximal
Cell models
Alongside a comprehensive cell bank of established laboratory cell lines, we have extensive expertise across diverse cell types and disease-relevant models, allowing us to match the biological system to the scientific question and stage of your program.
Primary cells
Complex co- and mixed-cellular assays
Stem cells
Assays that hold up over time
We apply rigorous qualification, validation, and performance-monitoring criteria to ensure assay robustness and reproducibility over time. These validated assays are then used to identify novel chemical matter, screen compound collections, and support structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies.
We understand the need to balance assay quality with screening throughput. Drawing on extensive high-throughput screening expertise, we optimize assay performance, implement miniaturization where appropriate, and maximize key assay metrics to deliver robust, scalable formats.
Start with one assay
One target, one assay format, rigorously qualified and transferred with fully validated conditions. The same scientific team can then progress the assay into screening, build the pharmacology cascade around it, and carry the resulting data through to preclinical candidate selection. Flexible in scope, unified in execution.
Frequently asked questions
Can you develop an assay from scratch, or only run one we already have?
Both. Assays are built around the biological question they are intended to answer, while established methods undergo comprehensive qualification on our platforms. We verify key performance parameters, including substrate Km, enzyme linearity, protein concentration, reagent handling, incubation times, and reference controls to ensure the assay is fit for purpose before generating decision-critical data.
What makes an assay ready to run in a screen?
Screening readiness is defined by performance, not simply functionality. We establish and verify key assay metrics, including signal-to-background, Z’ factor, substrate conversion, substrate concentration relative to Km, and enzyme linearity, before screening begins. Once qualified, assay performance is continuously monitored throughout the campaign to ensure the quality and reliability of every plate generated.
Should my program use a biochemical assay or a cell-based assay?
Usually both, designed as complementary tools. The biochemical assay measures direct activity against the isolated target, while the cell-based assay reveals how that activity translates in a biological context, from target engagement through to phenotypic outcome.
Can you tell whether an inhibitor is reversible, slow-binding or covalent?
Yes. We can distinguish between reversible, slow-binding, and covalent inhibition using a range of complementary approaches. Progression curve analysis, IC₅₀ measurements across multiple pre-incubation times, and jump-dilution recovery studies help define the inhibition mechanism. Covalent binding can then be confirmed by intact mass spectrometry, with peptide mapping used to identify the modified residue and characterize the binding site.
Where is the work carried out?
At a single research site in Rome, Italy, by a single coordinated team. Assay conditions, qualification data and monitoring records are delivered alongside the results.
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