GlycoForm is focusing its efforts on the development of partnerships and competencies for the clinical exploitation of monoclonal antibodies (mAb) or products derived from them.

These products are subject to intense development as the role of glycosylation in improving the activity of effector function derived from the Fc portion has been demonstrated.

Significant changes to mAb performance can be induced through manipulation of glycosylation at asparagine 297 on the Fc domain. When an antibody finds its cancer cell target the sugars on the Fc portion of the antibody affect how it attracts specialised effector cells of the immune system to kill the targeted cell in a process called antibody directed cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). Monoclonal antibodies produced in cultured mammalian cells may be glycosylated with fucose, known to inhibit ADCC. GlycoForm's processes have the potential to significantly improve the effectiveness of ADCC by avoiding fucosylation.