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VHH / Nanobody Discovery Services

Home VHH / Nanobody Discovery Servi...

Looking for VHH / nanobody discovery built around your target and application, not a standardised package?

VHHs (single-domain antibodies, nanobodies) offer unique advantages: compact structure, robust stability, excellent solubility and the ability to access epitopes unreachable by conventional antibodies. They are now widely used in diagnostics, biotech research, therapeutic discovery, and agrifood biosolutions.

At CER Groupe, we deliver a fully custom VHH discovery program, from antigen design and in-house llama immunisation to the recombinant production of top VHH leads. You provide your target and intended application, we design the optimal route to high-value VHH candidates.

And because our business model is 100% fee‑for‑service, we never retain IP on the VHHs or sequences we generate for you.

Your VHHs, your sequences, your IP, always.

Why Choose CER Groupe?

1. In‑house llamas for full control and flexibility

We host and manage llamas internally in an ISO9001-certified, 3R-compliant facility. This ensures:

  • Reliable access to animals
  • Controlled scheduling
  • Consistent quality
  • Adaptable immunisation strategies

Few European service providers offer in‑house llama immunisation, this is one of CER Groupe’s strongest differentiators.

2. From antigen to recombinant VHH lead on a single integrated platform

  • Antigen design & production
  • Llama immunisation
  • VHH library generation
  • Phage display (or functional screening – under development – open to partnerships !)
  • High-throughput VHH expression in E. coli
  • Recombinant production of final VHHs

Engineering (VHH‑Fc, bispecifics, multivalent constructs), large-scale biomanufacturing and preclinical testing are available on dedicated pages, ensuring smooth transitions between stages.

3. High-throughput expression & screening of hundreds of VHH candidates

Thanks to our colony picker and parallelised E. coli expression system, we can:

  • Express hundreds of VHH variants at small scale
  • Run binding and functional screening early
  • Compare large panels of candidates efficiently
  • Prioritise the best performers based on real application-driven assays

This accelerates your hit-to-lead process and reduces development risks.

4. Emerging technology: microfluidic droplet B‑cell screening (collaboration-ready)

We are developing a next-generation microfluidic droplet platform allowing ultrafast functional screening directly at the single B‑cell level : internalisation, enzyme inhibition, receptor activation, infection neutralization, … Save time and focus on the best leads, from the beginning This is currently offered as a collaboration opportunity for partners seeking cutting-edge VHH screening modalities.

5. Quality, ethics and full IP retention

  • Fully ISO9001-certified
  • Internal animal facility operating under 3R principles
  • Transparent project management
  • Secure handling of all biological materials
  • 100% fee-for-service, no IP claim on generated VHHs

Our VHH / Nanobody Capabilities

Share your target and application, we design the most efficient VHH discovery strategy from llama immunisation to recombinant lead.

Antigen Design & Production

We can work with client-provided antigens or design/produce them in-house:

  • Proteins, peptides, conjugates
  • Support for antigen format selection
  • DNA immunisation available as an option (not emphasised as a core workflow)
Llama Immunisation
  • In-house llamas
  • Tailored immunisation schedule
  • Monitoring of VHH immune response
  • Serum or peripheral blood collection for library creation
  • Flexible adaptation to antigen type & response profile
VHH Library Construction & Phage Display
  • Construction of immune VHH libraries
  • Multiple panning strategies
  • Binder identification based on target/application needs
  • Early elimination of non-specific or low-performing clones
High-Throughput E. coli Expression & Functional Screening
  • Automated colony picking
  • Expression of hundreds of VHH variants
  • Functional assays adapted to your application (e.g. blocking, cell-binding, competitive assays)
Recombinant Production of VHH Leads
  • Recombinant expression in the system that best fits your next steps (E. coli, mammalian when needed)
  • Purification & QC suitable for diagnostic work, R&D or early preclinical steps
  • Format options include tags, Fc‑fusion, multivalent constructs (via Engineering page)

VHH Discovery Workflow

1. Project Definition & Antigen Strategy (1–2 weeks)

Objective: Build a custom VHH development plan matching your target and application.

We define together:

  • Target characteristics
  • Intended application (diagnostic, R&D, therapeutic research, agrifood)
  • Screening depth (dozens, hundreds of candidates based on projects specifications)
  • Functional readouts required
  • Expression system preferences
  • Expected deliverables and timeline

Deliverables:

  • Project plan & milestones
  • Antigen strategy
  • Proposed workflow and calendar
2. Antigen Production (if required) — 2–6 weeks

If needed, we design and produce antigens:

  • Proteins, peptides or conjugates
  • QC adapted to downstream use
  • Recommendations for screening formats

Deliverables:

  • Antigen ready for immunisation and screening
  • QC summary
3. Llama Immunisation & Immune Monitoring (6–10 weeks)

Objective: Generate a strong VHH immune response.

Activities:

  • Tailored immunisation schedule and strategy (multiplexing immunization available to maximize program output)
  • Immune response monitoring (serotitration or other readouts on request)
  • Adaptation based on results
  • Blood collection and PBMC preparation for library generation

Testing:

  • Binding titers (early evaluation)
  • Optional functional pre-tests (client or CER)

Deliverables:

  • Immunisation report
  • Serum/cell samples for VHH library creation
4. VHH Library Construction & Hit Discovery (4–8 weeks)

Objective: Identify a broad set of VHH binders.

Activities:

  • VHH library preparation
  • Phage display panning
  • Primary screening
  • Selection of binders relevant to your application

Testing:

  • Binding assays
  • Specificity checks (if required)

Deliverables:

  • Initial VHH hit panel
  • Screening summary
5. High-Throughput Expression & Functional Screening (4–8 weeks)

Objective: Screen a panel of VHH candidates to identify the best functional leads.

Activities:

  • High-throughput expression of up to hundreds of VHH in E. coli (automated colony picking)
  • Functional assays aligned with your needs:
  • Blocking/agonist/antagonist profiles
  • Cell-based assays
  • Competitive binding
  • Matrix compatibility (for diagnostics/agrifood)

Deliverables:

  • Ranked shortlist of functional VHH leads
  • Recommendations for recombinant production/engineering
6. Recombinant Production of VHH Leads (4–8 weeks)

Objective: Deliver high-quality recombinant VHH material.

Activities:

  • Recombinant expression (E. coli or mammalian)
  • Purification
  • Basic functional/QC validation
  • Optional tag or Fc fusion (performed via Engineering page)

Deliverables:

  • Recombinant VHH in required quantity (mg scale)
  • Certificate of Analysis
  • Summary report for each lead
7. Optional Progression to Engineering, Biomanufacturing & Preclinical

These are available on dedicated pages, but seamlessly connected to VHH discovery:

  • Engineering (VHH‑Fc, bispecifics, multivalent constructs…)
  • Biomanufacturing (for diagnostic or preclinical supply)
  • Cryostorage (safe long-term storage)
  • Preclinical platforms (biodistribution, imaging, PoC)

Segments We Support

Diagnostics

  • High-stability VHHs for ELISA, CLIA, LFA
  • Suitable for lyophilised or conjugated formats

Biotech & Therapeutic Research

  • VHHs for target validation, mechanisms of action, tool reagents, companion diagnostics
  • Engineering-ready leads

Agrifood & Biosolutions

  • VHHs adapted to complex matrices (food, environment)
  • Robust detection or biosensor applications

Academic / Research Programs

  • Custom VHH tools for exploratory studies
  • Flexible formats and throughput

Quality, Ethics & IP

  • ISO9001-certified
  • In-house animal facility operating under 3R principles
  • Strong confidentiality measures
  • Full documentation and traceability
  • No IP claim — 100% fee‑for‑service

Key Figures (placeholders)

  • 25+ years in biologics & antibody development
  • Llamas in-house for VHH immunisation
  • High-throughput expression of hundreds of VHH candidates
  • Integrated antigen → VHH → engineering → preclinical → biomanufacturing continuum