ZoBio Introduces DNA-Encoded Library Service for Exploratory Drug Discovery Programs

Officials at Leiden, Netherlands-based CRO ZoBio say the company has launched a DNA-Encoded Library (DEL) discovery service, which is designed to help biotech and pharmaceutical companies generate validated, progressible hits against novel and challenging drug targets.

The new offering combines structure-grade protein production, quantitative biophysics, DEL screening, off-DNA hit validation and X-ray crystallography into a single workflow, according to a company spokesperson, who explains that it enables clients to move beyond hit identification toward high-confidence starting points for drug discovery programs.

ZoBio maintains that unlike transactional DEL screening approaches that focus solely on hit generation, its platform is designed to deliver biologically relevant, structurally characterized hit matter with clear potential for progression. The service is particularly suited to exploratory and difficult-to-drug targets, including protein–protein interactions (PPIs) and targets with poorly defined binding pockets, where conventional screening approaches often fail, notes Gregg Siegal, CEO of ZoBio.

“Drug discovery teams today are increasingly focused on highly validated but technically challenging targets, where traditional screening approaches can struggle to deliver meaningful starting points,” he continues. “Our approach combines DEL technology with the structural biology, biophysics, and assay expertise needed to generate hits that clients can confidently progress.”

Siegal also points out that the DEL service is library-agnostic, enabling clients to access commercially available DEL collections or apply ZoBio’s workflow to proprietary client-owned libraries. The integrated platform reportedly includes:

• Structure-grade protein production and characterization
• Quantitative biophysical assay development using techniques such as SPR
• Biophysically informed DEL selection design
• Interactive DEL data analysis and hit prioritization
• Off-DNA hit resynthesis and orthogonal validation
• Structural characterization through X-ray crystallography
• Mechanistic insight to support downstream optimization

The workflow is designed to support collaborative decision-making throughout the discovery process, helping clients rapidly establish whether difficult or exploratory targets are viable for further development, according to Siegal, who says that members of the ZoBio team will be available for meetings during the BIO International Convention in San Diego to discuss the new service.

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