Technology
EDAPT®
Exploring the dark genome to discover and validate Dark Antigens®
We built EDAPT® – an industry-leading Dark Antigen® discovery engine – by integrating advanced proteomics, computational biology methods and rigorous multi-modal antigen validation.
EDAPT® uncovers hidden targets that conventional platforms miss, fuelling a pipeline of first-in-class therapeutics.
EDAPT® was built to discover targets with the hallmarks of optimal cancer antigens: tumor specificity, homogeneous expression within tumors, and shared across broad patient populations.
Exploring previously uncharted genomic dark matter
Enara Bio® has built an industry-leading platform called EDAPT® (Enara Dark Antigen Platform Technology) to pioneer the discovery and validation of Dark Antigens® with best-in-class cancer target properties.
EDAPT® combines proprietary computational biology methods with cutting-edge proteomics of primary tumors and healthy tissues. This enables us to discover novel antigens that conventional platforms are unable to find.
Confirming high-potential targets with comprehensive validation
We use a rigorous multi-modal validation workflow to identify targets that have the greatest clinical potential. This includes multiple mass spectrometry-based proteomic approaches (DDA-MS, PRM-MS, DIA-MS), Ribo-seq, and highly sensitive RNA in situ hybridization (RNA-ISH). This integrated methodology enables us to confirm antigen presence on the surface of tumor cells, ensure minimal expression in healthy tissues, and establish homogeneous expression within tumors
Breadth of discovery, depth of validation
Rather than being restricted to a single source or type of antigen, EDAPT® identifies all major classes of Dark Antigens® derived from across the genome. By pairing this breadth of discovery with depth of validation, we discover the most promising targets with the strongest therapeutic potential.
- Unmatched Dark Antigen® datasets anchored in physiologically relevant tissues
- Unbiased discovery of all major Dark Antigen® classes from across the genome
- Multi-layer validation to identify targets with the strongest therapeutic potential
- Early triage framework to prioritize targets with a clear development pathway
- Novel ORFs in “non-coding” RNAs
- ORFs within previously annotated lncRNAs
- Alternative ORFs in protein coding sequences
- ORFs in “untranslated regions” (UTRs) of protein coding genes
- Read-through peptide sequences between two canonical genes
- Novel alternative spliced isoforms of known genes
- HERV-derived ORFs
- N- and C-terminal extensions of cancer-testis antigens
- Completely novel transcripts
Our longstanding strategic collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim shows the power of EDAPT®
- We used EDAPT® to discover a series of Dark Antigens® with high prevalence in lung cancer patients
- We showed that these antigens have attractive characteristics as targets for immunotherapies:
- Confirmed presence on the surface of tumor cells
- Minimal or no expression on healthy cells
- Homogenous expression within tumors
- Strong immunogenicity
- Boehringer Ingelheim subsequently exercised an option to license multiple Dark Antigens® to develop off-the-shelf vaccines for the treatment of lung cancer
- Boehringer Ingelheim also triggered an additional component of the collaboration to discover Dark Antigens® in another undisclosed solid tumor
Learn about our innovative platforms
Discover how our science is driving the development of first-in-class immunotherapies designed to transform patient care.