NASHVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW)- Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) and the global biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca have partnered to identify candidates for antibody-based treatments that could protect people exposed to COVID-19.
Genetic sequences for antibodies discovered in the Vanderbilt Vaccine Center (VVC) will be provided to AstraZeneca for identification of the most promising candidates for clinical assessment and future clinical use.
The goal is to develop antibodies that could be given to people infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, to reduce the severity of their illness and speed recovery. The agreement with AstraZeneca allows VVC to continue working with other partners to develop antibodies for diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
“AstraZeneca is a great partner for us, since we have ultra-rapid antibody discovery technologies and have already discovered SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies,” said VVC Director James Crowe, MD. “AstraZeneca has world-class product development and manufacturing expertise that could, if successful candidates are identified, turn these antibodies into effective biological drugs quickly.”
Mene Pangalos, Executive Vice President, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca said: “Through our scientific expertise in infectious disease and antibody discovery and development, we have rapidly mobilized our research efforts to help respond to the COVID-19 global pandemic. By partnering with institutes such as the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, we aim to accelerate the discovery and development of a safe and effective antibody treatment to prevent COVID-19.”
There currently is no effective treatment or vaccine to stop the spread of SARS-CoV-2, which as of April 8 had infected more than 1.4 million people worldwide and caused more than 83,000 deaths.