20 Years of Complement Innovation

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From Question to Breakthrough: The Story Behind the WIESLAB® Complement System Screen

How did one EU‑funded project in 2005 change the way clinicians around the world assess the human complement system? The answer lies in Svar Life Science‘s WIESLAB® Complement System Screen – an ELISA‑based assay that has reshaped both complement diagnostics and research.

Twenty years later, project manager Professor Mohamed R. Daha looks back on the scientific and human journey behind this innovation. His path into complement research began in the 1960s, driven by curiosity and unanswered questions. Early work on C3 nephritic factor laid the groundwork for a career that seamlessly connected basic science with clinical application. The WIESLAB® assay itself emerged from a pan‑European collaboration built on openness, shared knowledge, and interdisciplinary teamwork.

What makes this assay so impactful?

• It was designed to assess all three complement pathways – classical, alternative, and lectin – in a single, standardized ELISA format.
• Its simplicity and clinical relevance ensure intuitive results that can be interpreted even in resource‑limited settings.
• This accessibility has made it a staple in diagnostics and research, particularly in autoimmune diseases, infections, and drug development.

Professor Daha highlights that the greatest challenge was not purely technical, but clinical: ensuring real‑world utility. The team focused on creating a tool that physicians could use easily and effectively in routine practice. Today, the assay stands not only as a powerful diagnostic platform, but also as a key resource for research into complement‑targeting therapies.

Curious to learn more about the people, partnerships, and vision that turned a single assay into a cornerstone of complement diagnostics? Discover the full editorial with Professor Mohamed R. Daha and explore 20 years of WIESLAB® Complement System innovation.