AstraZeneca has begun research efforts focused on the identification and development of antibody therapies against Covid-19 coronavirus infection.
The company will use its in-house capabilities and form alliances to discover monoclonal antibodies that could detect, attach to and neutralise the SARS-CoV-2.
Synthesised in a laboratory, monoclonal antibodies work similarly to natural antibodies. They neutralise the virus and can act as a preventative, as well as a treatment.
Internally, biopharmaceutical experts at AstraZeneca are leveraging its antibody discovery technology, which previously helped in identifying potential antibodies for influenza-A.