Since muromonab-CD3 (Orthoclone OKT3) was approved by the FDA in 1986, monoclonal antibodies became increasingly important amongst the therapeutics arsenal in the 2000s, particularly in immunotherapy for diseases like cancer, autoimmune disorders, and infections.
Since then, blockbusters spread with adalimumab developed against rheumatoid arthritis, checkpoint inhibitors like pembrolizumab against PD-L1 positive cancers, and bamlanivimab that was rapidly developed and authorised for emergency use to treat COVID-19.
In 2024, they are around 30 monoclonal antibody therapeutics in Phase III clinical trials or have been reviewed by regulatory agencies, demonstrating that therapeutic antibodies have moved from experimental tools into the cornerstone of modern medicine.
In the early phases of the discovery process, the challenge is to screen entire immune repertoires with fast, convenient, and efficient methods. Traditional and alternative methods have limitations in terms of efficiency and feasibility.
High-throughput single-cell technology, especially droplet microfluidics, has revolutionised the screening process, allowing for the rapid and comprehensive analysis of antibody-producing cells.
