Assay Development

By optimizing assay design, validation, and scalability upfront, we ensure biological relevance, reproducibility, and high data quality, minimizing false positives, inconclusive results, and downstream failures. This robust, targeted approach enables faster decision-making from target screening through mechanism-of-action studies, delivering reliable, actionable data while controlling cost and timelines.

Customized assay development

Assay strategies are designed around your biological question, therapeutic modality, and project phase. Our flexible approach based on individual project requirements promotes a collaborative environment to support work on anything from a single custom assay to a fully integrated screening cascade.

Key capabilities include:

• Biochemical, biophysical and cell-based assays.
• Custom assay design or pre-validated assays depending on project needs.
• Suitable for small molecules, biologics, cell and gene therapies, PROTACs, molecular glues, and other emerging modalities.
• Flexible throughput options: low, medium, high, including automation-ready formats.
• Full support from our experienced, PhD qualified, scientists.

We emphasize data quality, reproducibility, and biological relevance so your assays provide real predictive power for your drug discovery efforts.

Assay development process

We follow a transparent, milestone-driven workflow to reduce risk and shorten timelines.

Typical stages include:

Throughout, we apply a clear decision-framework to obtain the most appropriate selection of biochemical and phenotypic readouts, ensuring the most appropriate, efficient assay path.

Whether this is your only assay or the first step in a full screening cascade, we ensure a smooth path from concept to data you can trust.

Why choose Concept Life Sciences

Multidisciplinary expertise: Our in-house teams cover biochemical, biophysical and cellular biology, enabling flexible assay design.

Transparent collaboration: You retain control over decision-making, timelines, and data.

Reproducibility-first approach: Validated workflows, stringent QC, statistical rigour and consistent documentation.

Flexibility across modalities: Small molecules, biologics, cell and gene therapies, novel modalities, we adapt to your project’s needs.

Scalable support: From a one-off assay to full screening cascades.

Kinase activity assay for selective inhibitor development

Development of a selective WEE1 inhibitor

Solution: Developed and validated a biochemical kinase assay and delivered SOP, raw data, and automation-ready protocol enabling client to rapidly progress hit-to-lead.

Impact: Reduced single agent cytotoxicity in cancer and non-cancer cell lines.

How we support your discovery pipeline

We deliver assays optimised for each stage of your project:

• Target validation and biochemical characterization.
• Screening assay implementation and automation.
• Mechanism of action (MoA) and target-engagement assays.
• Secondary and orthogonal assays.
• Hit-to-lead support, structure–activity relationship (SAR) cascades, and lead optimization.

Each assay is tailored to the biology and decision-points of your program, ensuring data is relevant, robust, and actionable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What types of assays do you develop?

A: Biochemical, biophysical and cell-based assays for target validation, screening, and lead optimization.

Q: Do you offer custom and ready-to-run assays?

A: Yes. We design bespoke assays when biology demands it and offer validated ready-to-run assays for common targets.

Q: How do you ensure robustness and reproducibility?

A: We employ rigorous optimization and validation — including statistical metrics (Z′, signal-to-background, CV) and, where appropriate, orthogonal confirmation prior to scale-up.

Q: What throughput levels can you support?

A: Low, medium, and high-throughput formats, including automation-ready workflows for screening campaigns.

Q: Can you handle complex or novel targets/modalities?

A: Absolutely. Our multidisciplinary team works with small molecules, biologics, cell and gene therapies, PROTACs, and other emerging modalities, adapting assay design to suit project requirements.

Q: How long does assay development typically take?

A: Depending on complexity, 4–12 weeks. Timelines are provided with a bespoke development plan and regular progress updates.

Q: Can you integrate assays into a full screening cascade?

A: Yes. We can support primary screening, downstream confirmation, orthogonal assays, SAR cascades, and lead optimization.