ImmunoPrecise Announces New Multi-Specific SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Collaboration with Zymeworks
Friday, September 18, 2020
IMMUNOPRECISE ANTIBODIES LTD., a leader in full-service, therapeutic antibody discovery and development, announce a research collaboration with Zymeworks Inc., giving ImmunoPrecise access to Zymeworks' Azymetric™ and EFECT™ platforms for the further development of its multiple antibody candidates to fight COVID-19.
Under the terms of the agreement, IPA will transform its previously tested and potent SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies into bispecific and multispecific antibodies using the Zymeworks' platforms. These sets of candidates will be thoroughly tested using SARS-CoV-2 spike protein provided by the National Research Council Canada ("NRC"), prior to pre-clinical manufacturing at the NRC for animal studies. Timelines for the Companies pre-clinical studies examining the efficacy of IPA's Polytope therapies using traditional antibody formats are not impacted by these additional investigations into formulation.
"Global health issues like the COVID-19 pandemic represent significant times for companies like IPA to share our collective expertise and technologies to bring forward safe and efficacious therapies," said Ali Tehrani, Ph.D., President and CEO of Zymeworks. "We look forward to continuing our relationship with ImmunoPrecise as they advance multi-specific candidates toward the clinic."
"After the discovery of potently neutralizing antibodies in a combinatorial setting, it was a logical consequence for us to look into clinically-proven, multi-specific antibody platforms," said Jennifer Bath, Ph.D., President and CEO of ImmunoPrecise Antibodies. "IPA is pleased to collaborate with the Zymeworks team as we work together to treat COVID patients using our extensive, collective expertise."
Jennifer Bath, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of ImmunoPrecise, has reviewed and approved the scientific disclosure of this news release.
The Company is not making any express or implied claims that its product has the ability to eliminate, cure or contain COVID-19 (or SARS-CoV-2) at this time.
