Biointron’s Networking Lunch “At the Table: Antibody Discovery” with KACTUS was held at Catalyst Restaurant in Cambridge on March 13. The session featured a guest speaker, Dr. Hitesh Soni. We were excited to share an afternoon filled with inspiring knowledge and conversations.
The event began with an open buffet and informal networking session, where attendees connected over great food and conversation. It was an opportunity for scientists across the antibody discovery space to exchange ideas, discuss challenges, and build new relationships in a relaxed setting.
Haoming Zhai, Senior Business Development Manager at Biointron, officially welcomed guests and introduced the company, highlighting our commitment to accelerating antibody discovery through fast and reliable solutions.
The highlight of the afternoon was an insightful talk by Hitesh Soni, Director of In Vivo Pharmacology at Tectonic Therapeutic Inc.
Dr. Soni shared the story behind the development of TX45, a long-acting relaxin therapeutic designed for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension. His talk explored the intersection of protein engineering and pharmacology, offering attendees a closer look at how molecular design decisions translate into therapeutic performance.
Rather than focusing purely on technical depth, Dr. Soni’s presentation highlighted a compelling theme: small molecular adjustments can drive meaningful clinical impact.
One particularly interesting aspect was the team’s strategy of reducing the isoelectric point (pI) of the molecule. While this adjustment slightly reduced in vitro potency, it led to significantly improved pharmacokinetics and in vivo performance. This trade-off underscores a broader lesson in antibody and protein engineering:
In vitro results don’t always predict in vivo success
Optimizing for developability and exposure can be just as critical as potency
Strategic engineering can unlock better therapeutic balance, not just better numbers
Additionally, TX45 demonstrated:
Improved circulation and exposure compared to higher pI comparators
Strong in vivo pharmacodynamic effects, including increased renal blood flow
Promising outcomes in preclinical pulmonary hypertension models, including improved hemodynamics and reduced disease markers
Overall, the work reflects a growing trend in antibody and protein therapeutics: moving beyond traditional optimization metrics toward holistic developability and translational performance.
The event wrapped up with an exciting raffle, where lucky winners took home prizes including AirPods 4, backpacks, plushies, and even 3D antibody models!
The Biointron team truly enjoyed hosting this event and bringing together members of the antibody discovery community. We’re grateful to all who attended and contributed to such a lively and insightful afternoon.
We look forward to seeing you at our future events. Until next time, let’s keep the conversation going at the table.
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