The shift in antibody drug discovery From affinity to function, antibody discovery has shifted toward programmable biologics engineered to survive human physiology and execute complex therapeutic tasks at scale. Written byAndrea Corona

https://www.drugdiscoverynews.com/the-shift-in-antibody-drug-discovery-17021?utm_campaign=DDN_Newsletter_Dose&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-83AGvtXKtrzP-Raxll3xEATtKmqRAOxHlAFxFypDaoeJJpL-eZLJWugQ9s9dWYtOBjvwbyx0BYyKQqs12z7E0Y3q-xSw&_hsmi=441645340&utm_content=441645340&utm_source=hs_email For three decades, the primary goal of antibody discovery was the refinement of binding affinity, maximizing the strength with which a monoclonal antibody (mAb) locked onto its target. But as we move through 2026, clinical milestones indicate a definitive pivot toward functional engineering. The modern antibody is no longer just a simple antagonist; it is a programmable scaffold designed to help overcome the physiological hurdles that once rendered most biologics ineffective.