More Potential Antibody Therapies for COVID Emerge

When it comes to clinical countermeasures against COVID-19, one class of molecules stands out among the others: antibodies. Millions of years of evolution have equipped our immune systems with the ability to resist the constant barrage of threats to our health lurking in the environment. Producing antibodies is one of many mechanisms through which the body shields itself from infection. Advanced technologies now enable immunologists to discover unique antibody structures that attach to a specific target, or antigen, and mass-produce them for therapeutic use.

A team of scientists hunting for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, have made a significant breakthrough in their study. Led by Senior Principal Investigator, Wang Cheng-I, the scientists used state-of-the-art antibody discovery techniques to identify antibodies that can neutralize SARS-CoV-2 and protect against or treat COVID-19 infection. The group has forged a partnership with the Japanese pharmaceutical company Chugai Pharmabody Research and together, they are racing to bring the lead molecules to the clinic at an unprecedented pace. They will join a suite of other global organizations with COVID-19 antibody therapies in their pipelines, including Regeneron, Eli Lilly and Company and Tychan.