Turning data into discovery

At Octapharma’s Heidelberg R&D site, experiments, data, and analysis flow together in real time. Robotic systems handle repetitive operations, digital platforms transform raw data into integrated, searchable insights, and researchers uncover patterns that no algorithm alone could reveal.

“Turning discovery into a continuous process of learning is a key element of our R&D strategy,” says Thomas Güttler, Senior Director Recombinant R&D. “By combining scientific excellence, automation and data integration, we’re creating an environment where ideas and experiments scale naturally over time.”

Small antibodies, big implications

Among Heidelberg’s most exciting research fields are VHH antibodies, often called Nanobodies®.¹ These are tiny functional antibody fragments, originating from camelid or shark immune systems. Roughly one-tenth the size of a conventional antibody, they can be engineered for strength, stability and pharmacokinetics.

“Their versatility is truly impressive,” says Antra Zeltina, Head of R&D Molecular Design. “We can design them to reach therapeutic targets that were once inaccessible to antibodies or to combine multiple mechanisms in a single molecule.”

These nanometer-sized biologics are driving research across Octapharma’s therapeutic focus areas – immunology, haematology and critical care. State-of-the-art technology is enabling VHH discovery at scale: while traditional antibody discovery workflows only allow identification of a few hundred antibody variants, next-generation sequencing (NGS), as used by the R&D team in Heidelberg, “scans” millions of candidates simultaneously. This dataset is the foundation of a data-driven discovery pipeline that combines wet-lab experiments with modelling and advanced machine learning techniques.

“NGS gives us the complete picture,” Antra explains. “We can see the full diversity of sequences and identify rare VHH variants that could make the difference.”

^{1. Nanobody® is a registered trademark of Ablynx N.V./Sanofi}

From data to design

The R&D team optimises VHH antibodies for properties such as target specificity, biological activity, and production yield to turn promising leads into therapeutic molecules. To navigate a design space with more combinations than stars in the observable universe, the teams iterate through cycles of wet-lab experimentation and in-silico modelling. Machine learning algorithms sift through assay data and prioritize functional candidates for validation in the laboratory. After functional testing, the data feeds back into the models, improving performance in the next round, with ever-increasing precision.

Hendrik Böhler - Scientist at R&D Molecular Design - has been closely involved in building this pipeline from the beginning. “Machine learning helps us focus,” he explains. “We don’t use it to predict everything; we use it to highlight which candidates are worth testing in our labs. That saves months of work while keeping the decisions where they belong – to be made with deep human understanding.”

The payoff is evident: cycles that once took months now take weeks. Predictions guide experiments, experiments refine predictions, and each loop brings Octapharma closer to a clinically usable “development candidate”. Antra Zeltina adds, “We apply a lab-in-the-loop strategy, linking digital design cycles with highly automated wet-lab measurements. This integration accelerates learning from both experimental results and in-silico predictions, driving faster and smarter optimization of therapeutic candidates.”

Inside an R&D smart lab

For those working with these systems every day, the impact is tangible. “Earlier in my career, I spent hours pipetting and preparing labware by hand. Now I put my expertise into telling the robots what to do,” says Annika Neumann, Associate Expert R&D Automation. “When the setup runs on its own, I can use that time to be creative where machines simply can’t.”

This shift in how people work is exactly what drives the broader vision for automation at Octapharma. “Of course, the goal is to get automated systems to run independently and reliably,” explains Max-Philipp Fischer, Head of R&D Automation and Data Management. “But the real value lies in the independence that tech gives back to the people behind it: time and freedom to apply their expertise where it creates the most impact.”

The digital backbone

Technology has changed how R&D labs, experiments, data, and researchers are now connected to a flexible research environment where results are logged in real-time, readily available, traceable and usable.

“Digitalisation for us isn’t about collections of fancy systems,” says Thomas Güttler. “It’s about creating structure, clarity, and focus so that we can maximise our impact and improve patients’ lives by developing innovative, life-saving health solutions.”

Digital documentation has replaced manual logs and, more importantly, it has changed how the teams collaborate. Everyone works from the same live data. This focuses discussions and maximises their impact while accelerating decision-making. A culture of collaboration across all R&D groups drives these developments.

Collaboration at the core

“Collaboration has never been as easy as it is now,” says Till Kalkreuter, Associate Expert R&D Developability and Formulation. “When someone adjusts a parameter or uploads new results, the whole team can see the impact instantly. That changes how you talk about research.”

This openness extends across disciplines and sites. R&D units and support sites across Octapharma regularly exchange multi-terabyte datasets and workflow templates. Shared standards for documentation and analysis ensure that new insights travel with ease.

Quality by design and by culture

Reproducibility is where reliable research and development begins. It is treated not as a final check but as an element hardwired into every process. Each result, sample and parameter is logged with a full, transparent audit trail. Data-driven transparency has reduced variation between routine workflows to just a few percent.

“Reproducibility isn’t just an outcome,” says Hendrik Böhler. “It’s something we built in from the start. When the process is transparent and reproducible, you can trust the result, and that trust speeds up everything.”

Long continuous runs have become routine, a mark of reliability rather than risk. “Automation and data management let us scale without losing precision,” says Max-Philipp Fischer. “We can see potential issues at a very early stage and react accordingly. That’s why we run complex processes for days with full confidence.”

Beyond the numbers, our data strategy has reshaped how the Heidelberg team approaches quality by strengthening confidence in our methods, our data, and the way we work together.

The evolving lab

In Heidelberg, the lab continues to evolve alongside its people and technologies. “It’s not a destination; it’s a direction,” says Thomas Güttler. “We modernise our tools and data flows, so creativity and flexibility can stay at the centre of what we do.”

The approach is simple: keep systems modular, connect data effortlessly, and build teams that treat digital tools as part of their own expertise.

Strengthening data literacy and coding skills has become as important as mastering wet-laboratory methods. Each cycle of technological advancement generates new insights that are shared across Octapharma’s global research network, allowing progress to continuously build on itself with people-driven creativity and innovation at its heart.

Automation with a human touch

In Heidelberg’s laboratories, machines and researchers work side by side. From code to sequence, from robotics to results, the R&D team is proving that research can move faster without sacrificing precision. Each experiment builds on the last, driven by both human insight and automated precision.

“As automation and data integration mature, the focus shifts from building systems to using them wisely,” says Max-Philipp Fischer. “Machines deal with precision and scale. People bring creativity and vision. That is the balance we aim to keep.”

Curiosity, collaboration and digital confidence shape how the team works today. Their laboratories have become a connected space where data, devices and researchers evolve together, one cycle at a time.

Octapharma is moving forward with purpose. Technology will accelerate discovery, but people will define it. The mission remains the same. Apply innovation responsibly and turn every advance into real value for our patients.

“At Octapharma, we translate this approach into a clear strategic commitment,” says Wolfgang Frenzel, R&D Board Member. “By integrating data, technology and scientific excellence, we strengthen our capacity to deliver innovative therapies that improve patients’ lives worldwide.”