Healthcare & Pharmaceutical Awards 2021

GHP / Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Awards 2021 41 , SICGENAntibodies is a customantibody creating business that has ingrained itself into rural farm life. In essence, bymaking itself a part of an existing ecosystemand naturalistically producing antibodies in goat herds, it is able to achieve a great number of antibodies per animal that increases accessibility and decreases cost for its clients. With the demand for antibody basedmedical solutions on the rise due to the Covid-19 outbreak, this is more pivotal than ever, and we checked inwith the company behind it all to get a glimpse behind the curtain at its outstanding operation. A European company that manufactures polyclonal antibodies for cell biology research, SICGEN Antibodies began in 2009. Fundamentally, whilst it started as a spin-off from the University of Coimbra’s department by Dr José Ramalho and two other co-founders, it quickly became part of the NEOTEC Portuguese Initiative. In addition to this, in 2009, Dr José himself moved to NOVA University of Lisbon where he continues to ply his trade in cell biology and the development of new antibodies to this day, owning 50% of the SICGEN Antibodies portfolio by 2017 after a UK investor acquired the other 50% in February of that year. Based in Coimbra, in a small village in the region where the production unit has developed an exemplary and large lab space to allow them to work, its complex also includes an animal house that allows them to keep track of the hundreds of antibodies produced in the herds of goats it has on site. An example of an exemplary modern biotechnological operation, SICGEN Antibodies Jul21591 has seamlessly integrated itself into a rural ecosystem that still produces goat cheese by traditional methods, an important source of income for many families in the vicinity that it helps to upkeep by supporting the farmers. SICGEN Antibodies, therefore, has become an outstanding producer of polyclonal antibodies operating in an empathic and naturalistic manner that provides the highest quality products and services at the highest quality under the most competitive standards, prices, and standardized controls. As a result, its work has been used in a number of life science research areas, such as fluorescent proteins like GFP, mCherry, tdTomato and more, being featured in a multitude of peer reviewed publications as it becomes a cornerstone producer of custom antibodies for national and international institutes of learning, research, and pharmaceuticals. Being one of the few antibody production companies in Europe, it has made a name for itself by creating affordable, accessible antibodies with its rigorously maintained and highly competitive operation, due to the type of animal it has chosen to work with. As it works with goats, it has a far higher rate of antibody production per animal, working in tandem with the local people in order to create a mutually beneficial ecosystem for the farmers and researchers alike, specializing in particular in raising antibodies against recombinant proteins and prizing itself on its immense flexibility. Recently, it has pivoted to creating antibodies that can target SARS-Cov-2 in order to help researchers find methods to fight the pandemic. Having been financed by Portugal 2020 and I&D Covid-19, it was able to achieve this in relatively little time, allowing it to move quickly towards the encroaching future of its industry; in essence, it sees this future being heralded in by moving away from animal farms and towards in vitro technologies. By keeping its fingers on the pulse of these developments, it promises its clients that it will be keeping up, working hard to herald in this new, more versatile and ethically sound future as its size and adaptability continue to Best Custom Polyclonal Antibody Production Company 2021 wow its market segment. With the urgent need for antibody products still in full swing, SICGEN Antibodies will be continuing to step up to the plate to help, working in collaboration with academics and clients to remain an international reference point for exemplary custom antibody creation. Company: SICGEN Antibodies Contact: Jose Ramalho Website: sicgen.pt