[Coronavirus] Celltrion selects 14 antibodies with strong capability to neutralize virus

By Lim Chang-won Posted : April 13, 2020, 15:33 Updated : April 13, 2020, 15:33

[Courtesy of Celltrion]

SEOUL -- In a joint study with Celltrion, a bio firm involved in the development of preventive vaccines and medicines for the treatment of patients infected with a new coronavirus, a state research institute has selected a group of antibodies that showed strong capabilities to neutralize the virus.

Celltrion has selected 38 out of 106 antibodies with high binding antigens to verify their ability to neutralize the virus. Of them, 14 showed strong neutralization capabilities, according to the Korea National Institute of Health (KNIH). Neutrality is verified by mixing antibodies and viruses to infect host cells and then figuring out how much host cells are revived by antibodies.

"We plan to investigate neutralization capabilities through precise analysis of the candidates for antibody treatments and evaluate the effectiveness of antibody treatments using animal models including mice," the institute said in a statement on Monday.

Celltrion and KNIH plan to closely analyze antibody treatments while assessing their efficacy through animal testing. The institute said that Celltrion would develop cell lines for the final group of antibody treatments. Once the cell line development is completed, the company will mass-produce clinical materials for humans.

The institute has selected SK Bioscience and Celltrion as cooperation partners for its project to develop preventive vaccines and medicine. SK Bioscience claimed to have secured a candidate for COVID-19 through the protein culture and refining platform of an antigen produced with gene recombination technology.


 
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