ImmunoPrecise begins preclinical manufacturing of lead antibodies targeting SARS-CoV-2

VICTORIA — ImmunoPrecise Antibodies Ltd., announced on Dec. 11 that it has entered into a research collaboration agreement with the National Research Council of Canada’s (NRC) Human Health Therapeutics (HHT) Research Centre to develop its neutralizing PolyTope™ antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.

The NRC is supporting this research through the Pandemic Response Challenge Program (PRCP) and the Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP). The project is also a collaboration with Zymeworks Inc. for the design and development of IPA’s lead antibody candidates. ImmunoPrecise has managed to identify antibodies that are directed against the SARS-CoV-2 virus spike protein, by screening tens of thousands of antibodies from multiple sources. Top neutralizing antibodies have been progressed for preclinical testing in the IPA PolyTope™ Therapy program.

IPA considers the NRC to be a partner of choice to develop and manufacture their antibody therapeutics, as the NRC is uniquely positioned in Canada to address the various facets of this project having integrated, multi-disciplinary biologics research facilities based in Montréal and Ottawa.

“IPA is pleased to contribute to this Canadian endeavor with the NRC and Zymeworks,” stated Jennifer Bath, CEO of ImmunoPrecise. “IPA is proud to embark on its first collaboration with the NRC, as we continue to establish ourselves as a key player in the Canadian life science ecosystem and in the current pandemic.”