Sussex Research and 48Hour Discovery Announce Strategic Partnership to Develop and Commercialize Game-Changing Liquid Glycan Array (LiGA) Reagents Designed to Enable High-Throughput, Multiplex Profiling of Protein–Glycan Interactions on Cell Surfaces
Ottawa, Canada - May 25, 2025
Sussex Research Laboratories Inc. (Sussex Research), a globally recognized leader in Empowering Therapeutic Innovation Through Glycoscience, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a strategic commercialization collaboration with 48Hour Discovery Inc. (Edmonton, AB) to develop Liquid Molecular Array technology for glycomics research & development. Based on 48Hour Discovery’s Liquid Glycan Array (LiGA) technology, Sussex Research will develop and provide broad access to phage-based tools across academia and industry for drug discovery and development applications.
The genetically encoded, multivalent Liquid Glycan Array (LiGA) platform represents a major technological advance over traditional, static glass-slide glycan arrays, providing a dynamic, DNA-encoded, true liquid environment-based system. LiGA is a glycan display technology designed to enable high-throughput, multiplex profiling of protein–glycan interactions.
LiGA combines 48Hour Discovery’s phage display technology with Sussex Research’s glycan ligands, advanced glycan and glycoconjugate synthesis capabilities, and extensive linker chemistries. Each LiGA component carries a defined glycan structure presented in multiple copies on the phage surface and is paired with a unique DNA barcode, allowing researchers to combine many glycans into a single assay and then decode binding events by DNA sequencing. The platform was developed in the lab of Professor Dr. Ratmir Derda at the University of Alberta with key contributions from Drs. Guilherme Meira Lima, Mirat Sojitra, Chuanhao Peng and multiple collaborators including Dr. Corwin Nycholat, Chief Scientific Officer at Sussex Research. The technology and full list of contributors is published in Nature Chemical Biology 2021, 7, 806-816.
“LiGA has a much wider scope over traditional glycan arrays. The phage-display enables researchers to study complex glycan-protein interactions in living organisms, cells, and in in vitro systems with high precision. This technology is ideal for developing targeting ligands for extra-hepatic delivery applications. We are excited to partner with 48Hour Discovery to commercialize and expand LiGA”, said Dr. Corwin Nycholat.
“LiGA was developed through years of innovation and has been reported in high-profile, peer-reviewed journals such as Nature Chemical Biology, Science Advances, and Cell Chemical Biology”, said Dr. Ratmir Derda, CSO and Co-founder of 48Hour Discovery. “We are excited to expand its research and development impact by making these reagents commercially available by partnering with Sussex Research, a highly regarded global specialist in the field. This is a major milestone for 48Hour Discovery and a key step in scaling LiGA components while providing access to high-quality LiGA reagents.”
“As a leading innovator in glycoscience, Sussex Research is trusted by its customers to deliver the most innovative tools and expertise they need to advance drug discovery, whether glycopeptides for immunotherapeutic antibody development, glycan ligands for targeted therapies or glycoconjugates for vaccine development”, said Dr. Brady Clark, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Sussex Research. “LiGA provides a new, dynamic, and quantitative tool for exploring glycan binding receptors in their natural environment on the surface of cells. So, in effect, LiGA brings the array to the living cell which is a real game changer. We are delighted to bring this exciting technology to market.”
Those interested in exploring glycan binding receptors in their natural environment on the surface of cells, whether for pure research or drug discovery & development applications, are urged to contact Sussex Research for more information regarding the new LiGA products.
About Sussex Research Laboratories Inc.
Sussex Research Laboratories Inc. (Ottawa, Canada) is a globally recognized specialist in empowering therapeutic innovation through glycoscience. The company applies its expertise in glycodesign, glycan and glycoconjugate synthesis, and linker chemistries across a wide range of therapeutic areas, including vaccine development, protein and antibody engineering, and targeted drug delivery. With 30 years of experience as a Contract Research & Development (CRO) service provider, Sussex Research supports pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical partners in applying glycotechnology to next-generation therapeutics, including oligonucleotide, peptide, protein, lipid, and small-molecule modalities, as well as lipid nanoparticle (LNP) technologies for modern drug design and delivery. The company is also widely recognized for its enabling product portfolio of advanced glycans, glycopeptides, glycoconjugates, and targeting ligand/linker systems.
Media Contacts
Remmick So, Chief Operating Officer
Email: admin@sussex-research.com
About 48Hour Discovery Inc.
48Hour Discovery Inc. (Edmonton, Alberta) is a pioneering biotechnology company that specializes in rapid drug discovery through its revolutionary peptide platform. By harnessing state-of-the-art technologies, the company quickly identifies and optimizes drug candidates providing an innovative approach to tackling unmet medical needs. Founded in 2017, 48Hour Discovery has validated its technology through strategic partnerships with over 25 companies, including global pharmaceutical leaders.
Media Contacts
Rick Finnegan, Chief Executive Officer
Email: rfinnegan@48hourdiscovery.com