RoukenBio and AVS Bio Announce Strategic Partnership to Integrate Design-Focused Antibody Discovery and Optimisation with Mechanism-Driven Functional Characterisation

Creation of an end-to-end antibody engine: rapid discovery paired with physiologically relevant translational assays to confirm MoA early and de-risk IND readiness.

Motherwell, Scotland, [17] February 2026 — RoukenBio and AVS Bio today announced a strategic partnership that integrates AVS Bio’s comprehensive antibody discovery and development services with RoukenBio’s expertise in mechanism-driven functional characterisation of biologics using advanced cell-based and primary cell assay systems.

The collaboration is designed to support biotherapeutic developers in selecting and progressing antibody candidates with clearer mechanistic validation and improved translational relevance.

Partnership strengthens functional mechanism-first decision-making

The partnership brings together complementary capabilities across the antibody development continuum. AVS Bio specialises in design-driven antibody discovery and development, leveraging complementary technologies including single B cell, phage display, hybridoma, and rare hit magnification platforms to generate highly diverse panels of candidate antibodies and support early functional triage during discovery.

To advance and de-risk lead development, AVS Bio integrates discovery with a highly scalable in silico-driven optimisation workflow, enabling systematic screening, fine-tuning, and informed decision-making in lead selection based on developability and clinical suitability.

RoukenBio complements this antibody discovery and optimisation capabilities by providing in-depth functional assessment of lead candidate activity in systems of increasing biological relevance, with a particular focus on immune-mediated disease biology, including immuno-oncology, auto-immunity, allergy, and inflammation.

Leveraging in-house engineered cell systems alongside primary immune cell models, RoukenBio enables detailed evaluation of downstream signalling, cellular responses, and mechanisms of action in contexts that are directly relevant to human disease.

Integrated antibody discovery and functional assessment

By aligning antibody discovery and optimisation with early, rigorous functional assessment, the collaboration enables biotherapeutic developers to access an integrated workflow in which prioritised candidates are seamlessly transitioned into functional cell-based and primary immune cell assays. This allows early interrogation of biological activity, pathway modulation, and context-dependent effects that are often not captured by binding or biochemical assays alone.

By introducing physiologically relevant functional data earlier in development, the partnership aims to improve lead candidate prioritisation and reduce translational uncertainty, addressing a key driver of late-stage failure: the advancement of antibodies with incomplete or misleading mechanistic understanding into preclinical and clinical development.

RoukenBio’s expertise in immune-mediated disease biology

“Too many antibody programmes fail not because of poor discovery, but because candidates are advanced without a sufficiently rigorous understanding of the mechanism of action in relevant immune cell contexts,” said Adele Hannigan, Chief Business Officer at RoukenBio. “RoukenBio is deliberately specialised in biotherapeutics for immune-mediated disease biology, where context-dependent functional behaviour is critical.

“By partnering with AVS Bio, we are integrating high-quality antibody discovery with early, mechanism-driven functional characterisation in complex and primary immune cell systems, enabling more informed candidate selection and materially reducing translational risk before programmes enter IND-enabling development.”

AVS Bio's perspective on enhanced antibody discovery

“Diversity, not only from a sequence perspective, but also regarding epitope landscape and functionality, is a key contributor to successful therapeutic antibody generation, ensuring the prioritisation of the best-performing molecule for clinical development. Combining AVS Bio’s excellence in diversity-driven antibody discovery and optimisation with RoukenBio’s expertise in translational-relevant functional profiling strongly strengthens our data-driven decision-making approach in therapeutic antibody generation,” emphasised Ilse Roodink, Chief Scientific Officer at AVS Bio.

“We are excited to partner with RoukenBio to enhance data-driven lead antibody selection through early, mechanism-focused functional insights, ultimately enabling our customers and partners to make better-informed decisions throughout their therapeutic antibody development journey.” 

RoukenBio and AVS Bio: A more predictive pathway toward IND‑enabling studies

The partnership reflects a shared scientific philosophy that successful antibody therapeutics require not only high-quality discovery and optimisation, but also early, mechanism-driven validation of functional activity in relevant biological systems. By integrating antibody discovery and optimisation with robust functional characterisation, RoukenBio and AVS Bio aim to provide biotherapeutic developers with a more predictive, decision-driven pathway from initial antibody discovery through IND-enabling studies and entry into the clinic.

About RoukenBio

RoukenBio – CRO redefined.
RoukenBio is a UK-based immunology-focused Collaborative Research Organisation (CRO) providing discovery to IND-enabling research services, alongside the development and manufacture of advanced cell-based tools. The company works with global biotherapeutic innovators across inflammation, auto-immunity, immuno-oncology and oncology, supporting the generation of high-quality, reproducible data to inform therapeutic candidate selection and progression toward the clinic. RoukenBio operates through a collaborative research model designed to integrate closely with customer programmes and scientific teams.

About AVS Bio

AVS Bio is a global company supporting the development of biologics for animal and human health with products and services at its operational sites in North America and Europe. The company has decades of experience in specific pathogen free technologies, novel (therapeutic) antibody discovery and optimisation, and protein production leveraging its industry-leading in vivo, in vitro and in silico technologies and deep scientific expertise. AVS Bio partners with biologics developers across a broad range of animal and human health indications, supporting programs from early discovery through preclinical development.