XBiotech has announced data for its candidate therapy for treating infections of influenza and COVID-19. The company continues to analyse components of its Fluvid therapy as it develops manufacturing capability for a product candidate.
The true human antibodies targeting the virus causing COVID-19 were found to effectively neutralise a test virus. Ongoing research has also found that the true human antibodies in this therapeutic cocktail that target influenza are capable of rescuing 100% of animals that receive an otherwise lethal dose of flu virus, XBiotech says.
While the COVID-19 pandemic has only recently emerged, Fluvid is the result of years of research and development at XBiotech, incorporating influenza true human antibodies that have been systematically evaluated for their ability to target virtually all known strains of influenza viruses. The COVID-19 antibodies were derived from patients who recovered rapidly without serious illness and therefore should have potent neutralising capability against the virus, the company says.
The influenza strains that will be targeted by Fluvid include: seasonal H1N1 and H3N2 strains; pandemic strains H1N1, H2N2, H3N2; avian influenza strains H5N1, H5N2 and H7N9; and even H9N2 and H10N8, which are currently in poultry but are believed to have pandemic potential in humans.
Dr Sushma Shivaswamy, XBiotech’s Chief Scientific Officer, commented: “We continue to see outstanding data as we move this unique and critical therapy toward the clinic. Unlike any other Research and Development program, our pipeline is focused on delivering therapies to the vulnerable demographic that is most in need of the Fluvid therapy. We believe strongly in the potential of this product candidate.”
