SPOC x AI
10-100x Challenge
This challenge seeks to improve affinity of in-clinic antibody drugs by 10 - 100X using AI models trained on high resolution SPR kinetic binding data sets (shared with participants at no cost)
This challenge seeks to improve affinity of in-clinic antibody drugs by 10 - 100X using AI models trained on high resolution SPR kinetic binding data sets (shared with participants at no cost)
The SPOC x AI Challenge is designed to showcase the AI-enabled drug development community’s capabilities to improve prior-optimized therapeutic antibody sequences. We will select one or two in-clinic monoclonal antibody drugs and explore if AI models trained on high resolution SPR data sets can be used to optimize for three different binding features relevant to different therapeutic modalities. Can we use AI design to improve monoclonal antibody binding affinities by 10 – 100X? For certain ADC modalities, is it feasible to significantly increase dissociation rates while keeping association rates high? To design antibody-based drugs that are conditionally active in acidic tumor microenvironments, can AI design tune pH responsivity of a given antibody, to reduce binding at physiological pH while improving binding affinity at lower (acidic) pH?
The SPOC x AI Challenge is designed to showcase the AI-enabled drug development community’s capabilities to improve prior-optimized therapeutic antibody sequences. We will select one or two in-clinic monoclonal antibody drugs and explore if AI models trained on high resolution SPR data sets can be used to optimize for three different binding features relevant to different therapeutic modalities. Can we use AI design to improve monoclonal antibody binding affinities by 10 – 100X? For certain ADC modalities, is it feasible to significantly increase dissociation rates while keeping association rates high? To design antibody-based drugs that are conditionally active in acidic tumor microenvironments, can AI design tune pH responsivity of a given antibody, to reduce binding at physiological pH while improving binding affinity at lower (acidic) pH?
The challenge is designed to have two iterative rounds, and three tracks for optimizing three different parameters (see below). SPOC team will select one or two FDA approved in-clinic monoclonal antibody drugs (their scFv formats) against key well-characterized targets. For Round 1, we will perform single-residue deep mutational scanning (DMS) of CDR regions, substituting each amino acid with Alanine and few or all 20 amino acids. We will also include the two amino-acids at either ends of the CDRs for DMS. Library of around thousand scFv variants will be produced directly on SPOC SPR chip and screened with target(s) to generate high resolution kinetic data (RU, ka, kd, KD, t1/2) from all mutationally-scanned variants simultaneously, in different pH buffers. SPOC Proteomics will provide the data sets to all registered participants free of charge for training their AI/ML models. Participating teams will be invited to design and submit their antibody scFv sequences optimized for highest affinity, optimized dissociation rate and pH responsivity (total 10 sequences per participant). The scFv sequences may have unlimited mutations both in the CDRs or scaffold regions. SPOC team will synthesize submitted antibody variants on SPR chips, screen with target(s) and rank the sequences for performance. The comprehensive SPR data sets will be shared with all Round 1 participants for further training of AI models, for design and submission of improved, further-optimized Round 2 antibody sequences. The submitted second round scFv libraries will be synthesized on SPOC SPR chips and screened with respective targets(s). The final results from round 2 will be ranked to identify best performing sequences in each of the three tracks, followed by announcement of winners and award of prizes.
To receive contest updates please use the button above to register and follow us on LinkedIn. If you’d like to meet with us regarding a general interest in SPOC or custom project, please reach out to info@spoc.bio.
Let’s solve the challenges of data generation and validation for AI-enabled drug discovery together!
In this challenge, on the date submissions open, SPOC Proteomics will provide all registered participants with a downloadable dataset containing all kinetic parameters (RU, ka, kd, KD, t1/2) for mutationally scanned anti-HER2 VHH and Trastuzumab (in scFv form) binding to HER2. Data will include every amino acid substituted at each CDR position and the two positions flanking each CDR on either side. Participants will be tasked to use this data to train their model of choice and generate new sequences with the goal of improving the KD. Participants will have one month to generate and submit their sequences to our portal, at which time the SPOC team will synthesize the submitted sequences and produce the scFv/VHH on our SPOC SPR chips to generate kinetic data for HER2 binding. After Round 1 data collection, a second data drop will occur where teams can use the data from Round 1 to further improve and submit additional sequences for Round 2. After Round 2, winners will be announced and prizes awarded.
To receive contest updates please use the button above to register and follow us on LinkedIn. If you’d like to meet with us regarding a general interest in SPOC or custom project, please reach out to info@spoc.bio.
Let’s solve the challenges of data generation and validation for AI-enabled drug discovery together!
SPOC Proteomics’ revolutionary platform generates sub-pico-molar resolution kinetic data (RU, ka, kd, KD, t1/2) for 384 up to 1,000 scFv or VHH sequences simultaneously using SPR (see our pre-print here). Using our proprietary direct-from-DNA cell-free protein synthesis and capture technology (see our Nature Communications Biology publication here), we deliver kinetic data at a fraction of cost and time compared to current methods.
SPOC Proteomics’ revolutionary platform generates sub-pico-molar resolution kinetic data (RU, ka, kd, KD, t1/2) for 384 up to 1,000 scFv or VHH sequences simultaneously using SPR (see our pre-print here). Using our proprietary direct-from-DNA cell-free protein synthesis and capture technology (see our Nature Communications Biology publication here), we deliver kinetic data at a fraction of cost and time compared to current methods.
Timeline
Timeline
Round 1
Round 1
April 2025: Registration open.
June: antibody CDR DMS kinetic data sets shared with registered participants.
July: Deadline to submit AI-designed sequences.
August:
• SPOC SPR data sets from AI-designed round 1 sequences shared with participating teams.Top 10 sequences posted to public leaderboard.
SPOC SPR data for training made available to only registered participants. Teams can participate in one track, or all three tracks listed below.
April 2025: Registration open.
June: antibody CDR DMS kinetic data sets shared with registered participants.
July: Deadline to submit AI-designed sequences.
August:
• SPOC SPR data sets from AI-designed round 1 sequences shared with participating teams.Top 10 sequences posted to public leaderboard.
SPOC SPR data for training made available to only registered participants. Teams can participate in one track, or all three tracks listed below.
April 2025: Registration open.
June: antibody CDR DMS kinetic data sets shared with registered participants.
July: Deadline to submit AI-designed sequences.
August:
• SPOC SPR data sets from AI-designed round 1 sequences shared with participating teams.Top 10 sequences posted to public leaderboard.
SPOC SPR data for training made available to only registered participants. Teams can participate in one track, or all three tracks listed below.
Round 2
Round 2
August: Sequence submissions open after Round 1 data drop to participants.
September: Deadline to submit improved AI-designed sequences, trained on new data.
November:
Winners announced for each track
Top 25 sequences posted to public leaderboard
Prize certificates distributed
2026: Manuscript co-authored with winning participants
Participation in round 1 is a must for round 2 submissions. A participant can win only one prize in each track.
August: Sequence submissions open after Round 1 data drop to participants.
September: Deadline to submit improved AI-designed sequences, trained on new data.
November:
Winners announced for each track
Top 25 sequences posted to public leaderboard
Prize certificates distributed
2026: Manuscript co-authored with winning participants
Participation in round 1 is a must for round 2 submissions. A participant can win only one prize in each track.
Three Track Competition and Prizes
Three Track Competition and Prizes
01
01
Antibody sequences optimized for highest affinity (lowest KD value)
Antibody sequences optimized for highest affinity (lowest KD value)
02
02
Antibody sequences optimized for high dissociation rates, while retaining high affinity
Antibody sequences optimized for high dissociation rates, while retaining high affinity
03
03
Antibody sequences tuned for conditional pH activity, with higher binding affinity at acidic pH 6 but lower affinity at pH 7.4 (measured here as ratio of affinities)
Antibody sequences tuned for conditional pH activity, with higher binding affinity at acidic pH 6 but lower affinity at pH 7.4 (measured here as ratio of affinities)
Prizes for each Track ( total 9)
Prizes for each Track ( total 9)
192 sequence order free (includes DNA to data)
60% off of 384 sequence order
40% off of 384 sequence order
In addition, each winner will have a chance to be a co-author on a journal paper featuring the dataset generated in the contest.
192 sequence order free (includes DNA to data)
60% off of 384 sequence order
40% off of 384 sequence order
In addition, each winner will have a chance to be a co-author on a journal paper featuring the dataset generated in the contest.
Sample Data
Sample Data
Above is a sample dataset from an anti-HER2 VHH where all three CDRs were mutationally scanned with 4 amino acid substitutions at each position and kinetic values generated (KD, ka, kd, t1/2, and Rmax are shown). N/A indicates that the Rmax was below the threshold cutoff for the assay and therefore kinetic values cannot be assessed and indicates loss of binding to HER2 for that variant. HaloTag Rmax is an indicator that the sequence expressed and was captured on the SPOC chip, indicating whether undetectable binding is due to lack of expression or loss of binding. The full dataset will be provided to teams as an excel table with associated sequences for all mutations screened as described in the contest overview.
Above is a sample dataset from an anti-HER2 VHH where all three CDRs were mutationally scanned with 4 amino acid substitutions at each position and kinetic values generated (KD, ka, kd, t1/2, and Rmax are shown). N/A indicates that the Rmax was below the threshold cutoff for the assay and therefore kinetic values cannot be assessed and indicates loss of binding to HER2 for that variant. HaloTag Rmax is an indicator that the sequence expressed and was captured on the SPOC chip, indicating whether undetectable binding is due to lack of expression or loss of binding. The full dataset will be provided to teams as an excel table with associated sequences for all mutations screened as described in the contest overview.
SPOC routinely measures pico-molar affinity interactions as shown by the above anti-TNFα VHH produced on SPOC chip binding to recombinant TNFα, and the below p53 protein produced on SPOC chip binding to an anti-p53 antibody. The data resolution generated by SPOC SPR chips is sufficient to detect sub-pico-molar binders with confidence. Furthermore, SPOC SPR screening can be applied to resolve and characterize femto-molar affinity binding interactions using the chaser method, as detailed by John G. Quinn, Analytical Chemistry 2025 97 (11), 10.1021/acs.analchem.4c06023
SPOC routinely measures pico-molar affinity interactions as shown by the above anti-TNFα VHH produced on SPOC chip binding to recombinant TNFα, and the below p53 protein produced on SPOC chip binding to an anti-p53 antibody. The data resolution generated by SPOC SPR chips is sufficient to detect sub-pico-molar binders with confidence. Furthermore, SPOC SPR screening can be applied to resolve and characterize femto-molar affinity binding interactions using the chaser method, as detailed by John G. Quinn, Analytical Chemistry 2025 97 (11), 10.1021/acs.analchem.4c06023
Proteins and scFvs/VHH are produced at the time of need directly on SPOC chips using our proprietary cell-free lysate production and protein capture technology. The above data for p53 proteins produced on SPOC chip binding
to an anti-p53 antibody in solution demonstrate that even if expression and capture levels differ, the resolved kinetic parameters are the same as long as capture levels (Rmax) are above the assay cutoff threshold. This demonstrates the reliability of kinetic data generated on SPOC SPR chips.
Proteins and scFvs/VHH are produced at the time of need directly on SPOC chips using our proprietary cell-free lysate production and protein capture technology. The above data for p53 proteins produced on SPOC chip binding
to an anti-p53 antibody in solution demonstrate that even if expression and capture levels differ, the resolved kinetic parameters are the same as long as capture levels (Rmax) are above the assay cutoff threshold. This demonstrates the reliability of kinetic data generated on SPOC SPR chips.
SPOC x AI 10-100x Challenge
SPOC x AI 10-100x Challenge
Registration
Registration
For more information on the SPOC platform, get in touch:
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1600 Adams Drive Suite236 Menlo Park, CA 94025
7201 E Henkel Way, Suite 285 Scottsdale, AZ 85255
480-219-9506
All rights reserved © 2024
For more information on the SPOC platform, get in touch:
Information
Contact Us
Privacy & Conditions
1600 Adams Drive Suite236 Menlo Park, CA 94025
7201 E Henkel Way, Suite 285 Scottsdale, AZ 85255
480-219-9506
All rights reserved © 2024
For more information on the SPOC platform, get in touch:
Information
Contact Us
1600 Adams Drive
Suite 236
Menlo Park, CA 94025
7201 E Henkel Way
Suite 285
Scottsdale, AZ 85255
480-219-9506
For more information on the SPOC platform, get in touch:
Information
Contact Us
1600 Adams Drive
Suite 236
Menlo Park, CA 94025
7201 E Henkel Way
Suite 285
Scottsdale, AZ 85255
480-219-9506