ZoBio has launched a DNA-encoded library (DEL) hit discovery service designed to help biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies identify and validate starting points for drug discovery programmes targeting difficult biology.

The new offering combines DEL screening with structural biology, quantitative biophysics and X-ray crystallography in a single workflow, aiming to provide researchers with validated hits that can be advanced into lead optimisation.

The service brings together structure-grade protein production, assay development, DEL selection, off-DNA hit validation and structural characterisation, with a particular focus on challenging targets such as protein-protein interactions and proteins with poorly defined binding pockets.

Rather than treating DEL screening as a standalone activity, ZoBio has integrated several technologies to generate mechanistic data intended to support downstream decision making in exploratory drug discovery projects.

gregg siegal, chief executive officer at ZoBio, said: “Drug discovery teams today are increasingly focused on highly validated but technically challenging targets, where traditional screening approaches can struggle to deliver meaningful starting points.”

He added: “Our approach combines DEL technology with the structural biology, biophysics and assay expertise needed to generate hits that clients can confidently progress. We are not simply delivering hit matter, we are delivering validated, progressible starting points backed by mechanistic understanding.”

According to the company, the platform is library agnostic, allowing customers to use commercially available DNA-encoded libraries or their own proprietary collections.

The workflow includes structure-grade protein production and characterisation, quantitative biophysical assay development using technologies such as surface plasmon resonance, DEL selection design, hit prioritisation, off-DNA resynthesis, orthogonal validation and X-ray crystallography.

ZoBio said these combined capabilities are intended to help researchers determine more quickly whether complex biological targets warrant further investment and development.

The company also noted that the service complements its broader hit discovery capabilities, which include fragment-based drug discovery and covalent compound screening. This allows programmes to be tailored according to target biology and the desired mechanism of action.

Blending multiple discovery technologies into a single process reflects a wider trend in early drug research, where organisations are seeking greater confidence in hit quality before committing significant resources to medicinal chemistry and optimisation campaigns.

Siegal said: “Many organizations can run a DEL screen, but far fewer can provide the scientific integration needed to rapidly build confidence in the resulting hits. By combining quantitative assay design, structural validation, and collaborative scientific problem-solving, we help clients reduce risk earlier in discovery and make better-informed go/no-go decisions.”

The launch coincides with the company’s participation in the BIO International Convention and the EFMC International Symposium on Medicinal Chemistry, where it plans to present the new service to prospective collaborators.