As innovators who made non-animal-derived antibodies available to researchers starting 20 years ago, we have generated more than 60,000 antibodies during this time span. Here, we review and highlight the key challenges that hampered the adoption of research antibodies generated by phage display. We describe the advantages of this method over traditional immunisation-based methods, and provide examples of specific projects. As active participants in attesting the scientific validity of non-animal-derived antibodies, we have contributed and supported key advancements in phage display for the generation of research antibodies. Such advancements have paved the way for the scientific community to switch to animal-free antibodies at a faster pace, as a goal for the near future.
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