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VHH Discovery Services

Phage and Yeast Display Services for High-Affinity VHH (Nanobody) Discovery

WuXi Biologics provides customized phage & yeast display platforms designed to accelerate VHH (nanobody) discovery for challenging targets. Our capabilities include camelid native and humanized synthetic library construction, diverse immunization strategies, tailored panning techniques, and flexible screening & testing approaches. With in-house libraries built from more than 100 alpaca and llama donors and proprietary immune library generation, we support efficient discovery of alpaca VHHs (nanobodies), llama VHHs (nanobodies), and other camelid VHHs (nanobodies) against challenging targets including GPCRs and multi-subunit protein complexes, enabling next-gen therapeutics discovery like bispecific nanobodies.

  • Custom VHH (Nanobody) Libraries: Native camelid and humanized VHH synthetic libraries
  • Extensive Library Size: 100+ alpaca and llama donors with >1011 transformants
  • Custom Phage & Yeast Display: Liquid-phase, solid-phase, and cell-based panning strategies
  • Challenging Target Expertise: Discovery support across GPCRs and multi-subunit protein complexes
  • Fast Timelines: 2 months from library, or 14–20 weeks from immunization

Speak with our experts about VHH discovery strategies that meet your project needs.

Speak with Our VHH Discovery Team

Tell us about your VHH program and we will connect you with the right scientific team.

 

Core Strength

VHH Discovery Service Highlights

Native & Humanized VHH Libraries

Support for native camelid VHH libraries and humanized VHH synthetic libraries

Phage & Yeast Display Screening

Flexible panning strategies using liquid-phase, solid-phase, and cell-based selection methods

Camelid-Derived Discovery

Relevant species options including alpaca, llama, and camel for VHH and nanobody workflows

Challenging Target Experience

Discovery support across GPCRs, ion channels, multi-subunit complexes, and other difficult targets


  • Challenging Target Expertise Support difficult targets, such as GPCRs and multi-subunit protein complexes
  • Extensive Library Resources In-house camelid and humanized libraries and proprietary immune library generation
  • Flexible Screening Strategies Phage & yeast display with tailored panning methods to identify high-quality leads
End-to-End Workflow

End-to-End VHH Discovery

 

01

Immunization & Library Preparation

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  • Support multiple immunization strategies, including DNA, mRNA-LNP, peptide, protein, cell, or combination approaches for immune library generation
  • Provide custom library solutions, including camelid VHH native libraries from 100+ donors (>5×1011 transformants) and humanized VHH synthetic libraries based on stable scaffolds (>1011 transformants)
  • Build high-diversity libraries tailored to target type, antibody format, and downstream discovery goals
02

Panning Strategy, Selection, and Enrichment

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  • Define the selection strategy based on target biology, MOA, and desired antibody properties
  • Design fit-for-purpose phage/yeast display panning formats, including liquid-phase, solid-phase, and cell-based approaches, with capacity to run 4–20 panning projects simultaneously
  • Track enrichment trends using binding readouts and sequencing analysis
03

Output Screening and Hit Confirmation

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  • Screen enriched clones in HTP SPR/BLI binding assays to identify promising binders
  • Eliminate low-quality, nonspecific, or redundant clones early
  • Re-test selected hits to confirm binding affinity, specificity, and reproducibility
  • Sequence, de-duplicate, and prioritize unique lead families for downstream reformatting
04

Format Conversion and Functional Testing

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  • Convert confirmed hits into the desired final format, including full-length IgG, VHH-Fc, and bispecific VHH
  • High-titer expression of reformatted antibodies for downstream characterization and evaluation
  • Confirm retained binding after reformatting using SPR, BLI, and ELISA
  • Evaluate biological activity in fit-for-purpose binding, function, and developability assays

Service Details

VHH Discovery Service Details

Service Item Description Turnaround
Native or Synthetic Phage Display Libraries
  • Camelid native library from 100+ donors with >5×1011 transformants
  • Humanized VHH synthetic library based on stable scaffolds with >1011 transformants
  • Custom donor-derived libraries with validated quality
  • Tailored panning, screening, hit confirmation, and functional testing
  • Flexible deliverables: sequence to purified proteins, with project-specific binding, functional, and developability data

Suited for projects requiring rapid access to native/synthetic libraries; humanization is needed from native libraries

4–8 weeks
Immunization & Phage/Yeast Display Libraries
  • Multiple immunization strategies (DNA, mRNA-LNP, peptide, protein, cell, or combinations)
  • Proprietary immunization protocols and custom antigen design
  • Yeast strain engineering with high expression and display level
  • Tailored panning, screening, hit confirmation, and functional testing
  • Flexible deliverables: sequence to purified proteins, with project-specific binding, functional, and developability data

Suited for projects requiring high-affinity antibodies from immunized libraries

16–20 weeks

Case Studies

Case Studies: Supporting VHH Discovery from Library Design to Lead Identification

Discovery of High-Affinity VHH Antibodies Targeting G-Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCRs)

This case study highlights VHH antibody discovery against GPCRs using immunized alpaca libraries. Through alpaca immunization, phage library construction, cell-based panning, and binding validation, we identified high-affinity lead candidates with improved EC50 versus benchmarks.

Case study: VHH discovery workflow spanning alpaca immunization, phage library construction, cell-based panning, and FACS-based binding validation, with binding curves and a comparison table showing improved EC50 versus benchmark antibodies.

  • VHH antibody discovery against GPCRs using immunized alpaca libraries
  • Alpaca immunization, phage library construction, cell-based panning, and binding validation
  • High-affinity lead candidates with improved EC50 versus benchmark antibodies
Humanized Synthetic Library Designed for High-Quality VHH Antibody Discovery
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This case study highlights the robustness of humanized VHH synthetic library for identifying high-quality leads. Built on stable scaffolds, the library supports VHH discovery with effective internalization, optimal yield, and enhanced thermal stability.

Case study: Humanized VHH synthetic library designed for high-quality VHH antibody discovery

  • High-quality VHH leads identified using a proprietary humanized VHH synthetic library
  • Reduced immunogenicity risk through humanized scaffold design
  • Confirmed high affinity and binding specificity across lead candidates

Why WuXi Biologics

Why Work with WuXi Biologics for VHH (Nanobody) Discovery

  • Expertise in Challenging Targets: Strong track record in generating VHH leads against GPCRs, multi-subunit complexes, and other difficult targets
  • Robust Library Platforms: In-house camelid, humanized, and proprietary immune VHH libraries to support diverse discovery needs
  • Fit-for-Purpose Panning Strategies: Flexible phage & yeast display strategies with customized panning technologies to improve lead quality

Get Started

 

Move from VHH Discovery to Data-Driven Lead Identification

Advance your VHH (nanobody) discovery projects with WuXi Biologics’ custom phage & yeast display services. From immunization and native/synthetic VHH library construction to lead screening & identification for challenging targets, our tailored workflows, broad camelid/synthetic/immune library resources, and proven discovery experience help teams identify high-affinity VHH leads for next-gen bispecific VHH discovery.

Talk to Our VHH Discovery Experts

 

Speak with our experts