Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are an important class of therapeutic that has greatly expanded our ability to treat a variety of indications, including cancer, autoimmune disorders, and infectious diseases. The cost of developing these molecules and ensuring that they are fit for purpose is much
higher than for small-molecule drugs. Although some of these costs are due in part to the nature of production, a major cost is incurred because of the complexity of the molecule itself. Extensive analytical testing regimes are needed for in-depth characterization and to ensure product stability,
proper in-process controls, safety, and efficacy. The next generation of product understanding will require highly complex, orthogonal technologies to elucidate interdependent structure-function relationships.

The ACS' focus on this field of research represents a defining moment in the development of technologies for characterizing mAbs. A multitude of experts in the field have come together around a single molecule for the first time to demonstrate both current and future practices involved in the
characterization of a biotherapeutic. The current series presents an open discussion of current best practices, a multitude of intuitive research, and a collaborative philosophy on where the field needs to move to satisfy future scientific and regulatory needs. Throughout this effort, a
first-of-a-kind repository of regulatory considerations, experimental methods, and data--as well as a widely available reference--are now available to industry, academia, regulatory personnel, and instrument manufacturers.

About the Author:
Dr. John E. Schiel received his B.S. (2004) and Ph.D.(2009) in Chemistry from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and is currently a research chemist in the NIST Biomolecular Measurement Division.

Dr. Darryl L. Davis holds a doctorate in Medicinal Chemistry from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science. Currently he leads an analytical group within the discovery organization at Janssen R&D.

Dr. Oleg V. Borisov earned a B.S. degree (with honors) in Chemistry at Moscow State University (1992), and received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Wayne State University (1997), after which he completed his post-doctoral studies at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories (2000) and Pacific
Northwest National Laboratories (2001). He is currently a Director at Novavax, Inc., developing methods and strategies for analysis and characterization of recombinant vaccines, based on nano- and virus-like particle technologies.