A Fully Automated High-Throughput Flow Cytometry Screening System Enabling Phenotypic Drug Discovery

Area of Science:

• Drug discovery and development
• Biotechnology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• High-throughput screening (HTS) aims to automate compound library screening for drug optimization.
• Phenotypic screening is valuable for drug identification without target knowledge, using disease-relevant assays.
• Current complex assays are limited by slow, low-throughput methods despite automation and imaging advancements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an automated workflow for processing complex phenotypic assays using flow cytometry.
• To enhance the throughput and robustness of phenotypic drug discovery.
• To showcase diverse applications of automated flow cytometry in drug discovery programs.

Main Methods:

• Development of a dedicated automated workflow for complex phenotypic assays.
• Implementation of flow cytometry for high-throughput sample processing.
• Validation of the system's performance over five years across multiple drug discovery programs.

Main Results:

• Achieved a throughput of 50,000 wells per day.
• Established a fully automated platform for robust phenotypic drug discovery.
• Successfully utilized the system in various disease areas, advancing molecules to preclinical and clinical stages.

Conclusions:

• Automated flow cytometry significantly enhances the efficiency and scope of phenotypic drug discovery.
• The developed platform enables rapid identification and advancement of drug candidates.
• This technology supports diverse drug discovery approaches across multiple therapeutic areas.