Three days, one hall in Kobe, and a large share of Japan's clinical laboratory community walking the aisles: that is JACLaS EXPO 2026, and Sekbio will be there from October 8 to 10 to talk about recombinant antibodies.
A recombinant antibody is a monoclonal antibody produced from a known DNA sequence in a host cell line such as CHO or HEK293, rather than from a hybridoma or from animal ascites. Because the sequence is on file, the antibody can be reproduced on demand. For IVD teams, that single property tends to show up as lower cost and shorter projects, and those are the two topics we want to discuss with you in person.
JACLaS EXPO 2026 at a Glance
JACLaS EXPO is an exhibition of clinical laboratory systems, instruments and reagents, organized by the Japanese Association of Clinical Laboratory Systems (JACLaS). The 2026 edition is held in Kobe, Hyogo, and is co-located with the 58th Annual Meeting of the Japan Association for Clinical Laboratory Science. That pairing brings laboratory scientists, technologists and procurement teams to the same venue, which makes it a practical place to discuss reagent raw materials face to face.
- Dates: October 8-10, 2026
- Hours: October 8-9, 9:30-17:30; October 10, 9:30 until 14:00
- Venue: Kobe International Exhibition Hall, Kobe (Hyogo), Japan
- Organizer: Japanese Association of Clinical Laboratory Systems (JACLaS)
- Co-located event: 58th Annual Meeting of the Japan Association for Clinical Laboratory Science
The last day closes at 14:00, so if you want a long technical conversation, the first two days are the better bet.
What We Are Bringing: Recombinant Antibody Technology
Sekbio is an ISO 13485-certified IVD antibody manufacturer based in Shenzhen, founded in 2020, supplying more than 200 IVD brands in over 30 countries. In Kobe we will focus on one capability: turning an antibody sequence into a reproducible, manufacturable reagent. The workflow covers the following.
- Sequence-defined monoclonal antibodies expressed in CHO or HEK293 cells, with the sequence and construct archived so the same antibody can be made again
- Matched antibody pairs for ELISA, CLIA and lateral flow assays, listed in our IVD antibody product catalogue
- Stable CHO cell line development for projects that need higher volumes, with yields up to 2.4 g/L (see our CHO stable cell line technology)
- Antibody engineering such as humanization, affinity maturation and format conversion when an existing clone needs improvement
We have completed more than 800 CHO expression projects, and every one runs under the same quality system. If you want the regulatory background first, our article on recombinant antibody vs hybridoma for IVDR compliance explains why sequence traceability matters for technical files.
Where the Time Goes, and Where Recombinant Production Saves It
Most antibody projects do not lose time in the lab. They lose it in handoffs, re-qualification and waiting for material. Recombinant production shortens each of those stages in a different way.
| Project stage | Typical Sekbio timeline | Why recombinant helps |
|---|---|---|
| Sequence and feasibility review | 3-5 business days | Known sequence allows developability checks before any wet work |
| CHO / HEK293 transient expression | As fast as 7 days | Material for pairing tests without building a cell line first |
| Full monoclonal antibody development | 8-12 weeks, sequence to validated antibody | Sequencing, expression and screening handled by one team |
| Stable cell line development | 2-3 months | Locks in supply once the antibody pair has passed your assay |
The point of this table is not the individual numbers. It is that a team with a sequence in hand can test antibody candidates in about a week, instead of waiting for a new hybridoma campaign.
Lot changes are the hidden delay
When an incoming antibody lot behaves differently, the assay has to be re-validated. Our article on antibody batch-to-batch consistency in IVD manufacturing puts that re-validation at roughly 4-8 weeks of work per affected product. A recombinant antibody made from one archived construct removes most of the sources of that drift, and binding-activity CV between lots is typically below 10%.
Where the Cost Savings Come From
We will not put a single percentage on savings, because the answer depends on your assay and your current supplier. What we can do is show you where the money usually goes and which of those items recombinant production removes:
- Re-validation after lot drift. Fewer unplanned requalification cycles means fewer weeks of analyst time and fewer delayed production releases.
- Lost clones. A hybridoma line that is lost or has drifted can mean starting again. A sequence on file can be re-expressed.
- Failed scale-up. Testing expression at small scale first, in CHO or HEK293 transient culture, shows whether a candidate is worth a stable cell line before you pay for one.
- Vendor handoffs. When sequencing, expression, purification and validation sit with different vendors, each transfer costs time and data. One accountable team avoids that.
- Animal-derived material. Recombinant production does not need ascites, which simplifies documentation for regulated products.
Bring Your Current Cost Per Lot
The most useful number for us is what a failed or re-validated lot currently costs you. With that figure and your annual volume, we can tell you in the same conversation whether recombinant production is likely to pay back, and roughly how soon. See Sekbio antibody case studies for examples of completed projects.
For high-volume products, the stable cell line route matters most: once an antibody is locked into a CHO line, unit cost depends on titer and purification yield, not on repeating discovery work. For smaller products, transient expression often covers the full lifetime need. We would pick the route per target, not as a blanket policy. Our comparison of CHO vs HEK293 for IVD antibody production explains how that choice is usually made.
Project Problems Worth Bringing to the Booth
A trade-show conversation works best when it starts from a real problem. These are the situations where a recombinant approach is most often worth discussing:
- An antibody supplier whose lots drift, or who has discontinued a clone you depend on
- A CLIA or lateral flow assay that needs higher sensitivity than your current pair delivers
- A research-grade antibody that must become a manufacturable, documented reagent
- A hybridoma-derived antibody you want to convert to a recombinant format for regulatory or supply-security reasons
- An expression bottleneck: low titer, aggregation, or chain mispairing in transient culture
- A new marker project where you need candidate antibodies quickly to decide whether to proceed
If your problem is not on the list, bring it anyway. Short questions get short answers, and if the honest answer is that recombinant production will not help your case, we will say so.
What a first conversation usually covers
We start with the assay and work backwards. What is the target, what sample matrix will it run in, and what sensitivity does the product need to claim? From there we look at where the current antibody falls short, whether that is signal at the low end, cross-reactivity, or supply continuity. Then we map the shortest route to a candidate: an existing sequence, a clone you already own, or a new campaign. Most of this can be sketched in twenty minutes at a booth, and you leave with a concrete next step and a realistic timeline, not a brochure.
Booking a Meeting in Kobe
Walk-in visits are welcome during opening hours. For a technical session on a specific target, a short note beforehand lets us prepare the right data and reserve time for you.
What to Include in Your Meeting Request
Email info@sekbio.com before October 8, 2026 with the target name, assay format, current antibody source and expected annual volume. We will reply with the booth location and a time slot. You can also call +86-135 9034 5917.
If you cannot travel to Kobe, the same team answers requests all year through the Sekbio contact page. You can also review our monoclonal antibody development service and ISO 13485 quality documentation ahead of the show.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is JACLaS EXPO 2026?
JACLaS EXPO 2026 is a clinical laboratory systems and reagents exhibition organized by the Japanese Association of Clinical Laboratory Systems (JACLaS). It runs October 8-10, 2026 at the Kobe International Exhibition Hall in Kobe, Hyogo. It is held alongside the 58th Annual Meeting of the Japan Association for Clinical Laboratory Science, so many laboratory professionals attend.
When and where is JACLaS EXPO 2026 held?
October 8-10, 2026, at the Kobe International Exhibition Hall, Kobe (Hyogo), Japan. Opening hours are 9:30 to 17:30 on October 8 and 9, and 9:30 until 14:00 on October 10.
What will Sekbio show at JACLaS EXPO 2026?
Sekbio will present its recombinant antibody technology: sequence-defined monoclonal antibodies produced in CHO and HEK293 cells, with matched antibody pairs for ELISA, CLIA and lateral flow assays. The team can also discuss stable cell line development, antibody engineering and project timelines for your own targets.
How does recombinant antibody technology reduce IVD development cost?
A recombinant antibody is defined by its sequence, so it can be re-expressed at any time without maintaining hybridoma lines or repeating animal work. That removes clone-loss risk, cuts the re-validation that follows lot drift, and lets you test expression at small scale before committing to a stable cell line. Sekbio does not quote a single savings figure because the result depends on your assay, current supplier and volume.
How fast can Sekbio deliver a recombinant antibody?
CHO transient expression can return material in as fast as 7 days. A full monoclonal antibody development project, from sequence to a validated antibody, typically takes 8-12 weeks, and building a stable CHO cell line takes about 2-3 months. Engineering steps such as humanization or affinity maturation are scoped after a sequence review.
Can I meet the Sekbio team at the show without an appointment?
Yes, you can stop by during opening hours. For a technical discussion about a specific target, send a short project summary to info@sekbio.com before October 8 so the right people are prepared and a time is reserved for you.
What should I bring to a meeting with Sekbio?
Bring the target or marker name, the assay format (ELISA, CLIA, lateral flow or other), your current antibody source and its main problem, and the volume you expect per year. If you already have antibody sequences or hybridoma clones, mention that. Even a rough description lets us tell you quickly whether recombinant production fits.
How can I discuss a project with Sekbio if I can't attend JACLaS EXPO?
Email info@sekbio.com or use the Sekbio contact page to describe your project. The same team handles requests all year, and you can review the CHO and monoclonal antibody services on the Sekbio platforms page, which also explains how quotes and project scopes are prepared.
See You in Kobe
JACLaS EXPO 2026 runs October 8-10 at the Kobe International Exhibition Hall, and Sekbio will be there to discuss how recombinant antibodies can lower the cost of antibody supply and shorten IVD project timelines. We would rather spend our time on your actual target than on a general presentation, so send us a few lines about your project before the show, or just stop by.
To prepare, browse the Sekbio antibody pairs you already use or are considering, and note the one problem you most want solved. That is where the conversation will start.