CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Neochromosome, Inc., the genome-scale cell engineering subsidiary of Opentrons Labworks, has partnered with GlobalBio, Inc. to launch pre-transformed human antibody libraries integrated into Neochromosome’s neoSwitch yeast strain. The collaboration delivers a turnkey platform that enables rapid, in-house biologics discovery through yeast display and streamlined lead optimization in secretion mode.
The neoSwitch system allows researchers to both surface-display and secrete VHHs, scFvs, and other therapeutic proteins, accelerating hit identification and reducing discovery timelines by months. Combined with GlobalBio’s clinically validated ALTHEA Libraries, which contain billions of human antibody candidates, the platform allows companies to initiate discovery campaigns immediately, identify leads in as little as four weeks, and move directly into characterization at a fraction of the traditional cost.
“This partnership resolves a long-standing challenge in biologics discovery: the tradeoffs between cost, quality, and speed,” said Leslie Mitchell, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer at Opentrons. “With a target antigen in hand, researchers can start screening immediately and identify high-quality leads in just weeks—at a fraction of the traditional cost.”
The global biologics market, projected to exceed $700 billion by 2030, is driven by advances in monoclonal antibody therapeutics across oncology, immunology, and infectious diseases. The neoSwitch platform enables faster development of next-generation biologics, including CAR-T and TCR therapies, lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery systems for RNA therapeutics, and bispecific or multispecific antibodies for autoimmune and cancer treatment.
Juan Carlos Almagro, Ph.D., CEO of GlobalBio and former head of antibody design at Johnson & Johnson, said the collaboration removes a major barrier in therapeutic discovery. “Our ALTHEA Libraries contain therapeutic candidates with proven clinical potential, derisking biologics screening,” Almagro said. “Neochromosome’s platform, powered by Opentrons Flex automation, helps remove months and millions of dollars from the process entirely.”
The neoSwitch platform provides several key advantages. Billions of antibody variants come pre-integrated into yeast, eliminating the typical two to three months of preparatory work before screening. Researchers can seamlessly switch between surface display and secretion modes through simple media changes, without subcloning or host switching, cutting weeks from workflows. Ninety percent of scFvs are confirmed functional, with 70 percent demonstrating high thermal stability (Tm > 70°C), diverse HCDR3 regions reflecting natural human variability, and strong production yields of 10–100 µg/mL within 48–72 hours.
“Antibody discovery lacks true end-to-end solutions,” said Dr. William Strohl, former Head of Biologics at Johnson & Johnson. “The neoSwitch strain makes yeast display plug-and-play, and when combined with GlobalBio’s diverse libraries, it provides a powerful solution for teams focused on rapid screening and affinity optimization.”
The partnership offers flexible access models, including full-service discovery campaigns at Neochromosome’s facilities, in-house screening kits with pre-transformed libraries, and annual licensing for unlimited campaigns under a flat-fee model.
“Every major pharmaceutical company has a graveyard of great ideas killed by discovery economics,” Mitchell added. “We’re bringing those programs back into play. When you can run ten campaigns for the cost of one, the entire drug development equation shifts.”
Early access to the platform is now open, with full commercial launch planned for the first quarter of 2026. The offering includes comprehensive protocols, onboarding resources, and dedicated technical support to help organizations implement yeast-display discovery regardless of prior experience.
