What's Happening?
OmniAb, Inc. has announced the launch of OmniUltra, a new transgenic chicken platform designed to express ultralong CDRH3 domains on a human antibody framework. This platform, introduced at the 2025 Antibody
Engineering & Therapeutics Conference, aims to broaden therapeutic opportunities beyond conventional antibodies. OmniUltra is a versatile in vivo discovery platform that extends into the peptide space, enabling multiple therapeutic applications. It generates human immune antibody repertoires with cow-inspired ultralong CDRH3 domains, unlocking novel binding modes and access to challenging targets. The platform also facilitates the isolation of picobodies, the smallest known natural antibody-derived binding domain. OmniUltra is designed to deliver pre-optimized specificity, affinity, and structural stability, streamlining hit-to-lead identification. It is ideal for applications such as bispecifics, multispecifics, CAR-T, radioligands, and stand-alone peptide therapeutics.
Why It's Important?
The launch of OmniUltra represents a significant advancement in antibody and peptide discovery technologies. By expanding into new markets and applications, OmniAb reinforces its leadership in next-generation drug discovery innovation. The platform's ability to generate unique antibodies and novel peptide therapeutics opens unprecedented opportunities for therapeutic development. This advancement could have a substantial impact on the biopharmaceutical industry, offering new solutions for challenging targets and enhancing the development of innovative treatments. The introduction of OmniUltra also highlights the importance of leveraging evolutionary distance and advanced technology to expand the recognition of human targets, potentially transforming the landscape of therapeutic peptide innovation.
What's Next?
OmniAb plans to showcase OmniUltra and its technology stack at the 2025 Antibody Engineering & Therapeutics Conference. The company will continue to engage with industry leaders and prospective customers to demonstrate the platform's capabilities. Future developments may include further validation and application of OmniUltra in various therapeutic areas. The platform's success could lead to increased partnerships and collaborations within the biopharmaceutical industry, driving further innovation in antibody and peptide discovery.
Beyond the Headlines
The development of OmniUltra reflects broader trends in biotechnology and drug discovery, emphasizing the importance of innovative platforms in addressing complex therapeutic challenges. The platform's focus on ultralong CDRH3 domains and picobodies highlights the potential for novel approaches to antibody and peptide therapeutics. This advancement may influence future research and development strategies, encouraging the exploration of unconventional methods to enhance drug discovery and development.
