Memo Therapeutics antibodies show efficacy against Covid-19 variants

Using its microfluidic, single-cell molecular cloning and screening technologies to enable antibody repertoire mining and antibody discovery, Memo Therapeutics can discover novel antibodies at high speed, efficiency and sensitivity derived from recovered patient samples. This approach has enabled the company to also identify a very promising antibody candidate against the South African variant (B.1.351).

Memo is collaborating with Serum Institute India and prestigious academic partners in Austria, Brazil and South Africa to source patient samples in the coming weeks to enable the isolating of promising, effective antibodies against each of the variants. This can be achieved in as little as 3 weeks from receiving the blood sample.

Memo Therapeutics’ MTX-COVAB, its first antibody against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is ready for clinical development. MTX-COVAB has shown efficacy against both the original virus as well as the UK variant (B.1.1.7)

“Addressing SARS-CoV-2 variants remains a global challenge and one that will remain. Vaccines will not always be effective against all variants, so the ability of our technology to rapidly identify active antibodies could form an additional strategy to combat the spread of these mutant strains,” Dr. Christoph Esslinger, CSO and co-founder of Memo said.

“Memo’s ability to discover potent antibodies against COVID variants in such a short period of time highlights the power and broad applicability of our technology,” said Dr. Karsten Fischer, CEO of Memo Therapeutics AG. “We look forward to working with colleagues in India, Austria, South Africa and Brazil to apply this potent approach to these difficult to control new strains.”

(Press release / SK)