Broadly neutralizing antibody against SARS-CoV-2 variants and related sarbecoviruses

Unmet Need: Effective treatment for neutralization of evolving SARS-CoV-2 variants

Though effective for the general public, current prophylactic vaccination methods for respiratory viruses, such as SARS-CoV-2, fail to provoke a durable antiviral immune response in patients who are immunocompromised. Therefore, these patients rely on the efficacy of antibody therapeutics to achieve robust neutralization and clearance of virus. However, variants of SARS-CoV-2 arise that can be resistant to existing antibody therapies, leaving minimal options for immunocompromised patients. Therefore, there is a need for antibody treatments that have wide inhibitory activity and can be easily modified to target novel strains.

The Technology: Therapeutic antibody treatment for neutralization of evolving SARS-CoV-2 variants and related sarbecoviruses

This technology is an engineered antibody that has broadly neutralizing potential against SARS-CoV-2 variants and several related sarbecoviruses. This technology isolates an antibody targeting the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein that effectively neutralizes all SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and is further optimized to enhance its neutralizing potency and breadth. It also demonstrated promising neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2-like sarbecoviruses and clade 2 sarbecoviruses. As such, this therapeutic antibody could be utilized to decrease the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients and can potentially be used to treat future outbreaks caused by emerging variants and related sarbecoviruses.

Applications:

Treatment for SARS-CoV-2 infection
Therapeutic tool for immunocompromised patients infected with SARS-CoV-2
Prophylactic for preventing SARS-CoV-2 and sarbecovirus infection
Assay for studying viral resistance mechanisms
Research tool for optimizing neutralizing antibodies
Research tool to study the immune response to sarbecoviruses and SARS-CoV-2

Advantages:

Adapted to neutralize all tested variants of SARS-CoV2 and related sarbecoviruses
Reduces SARS-CoV-2 disease severity
Readily engineerable in bulk
Cost-effective and relatively simple to produce
Easy administration to patients in hospital setting

Lead Inventor:

David D. Ho, MD

Patent Information:

Patent Pending

Related Publications:

Tech Ventures Reference:

IR CU24218
Licensing Contact: Kristin Neuman