Antibodies With Potent and Broad Neutralizing Activity Against Antigenically Diverse and Highly Transmissible SARS-CoV-2 Variants

       Emergence of highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern that are resistant to current therapeutic antibodies highlights the need for continuing discovery of broadly reactive antibodies.
       Scientists at the Vaccine Research Center of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases have identified multiple antibodies that ultra-potently neutralize SARS-CoV-2, including the highly transmissible BA.4, BA.5, BQ.1.1 and XBB subvariants of Omicron, as shown in a pseudovirus neutralization assay.  These antibodies target several epitopes in the receptor binding domain of the spike protein that are not impacted by spike mutations that knockout binding to other therapeutic antibodies, including, K417N, N439K, N440K, K444T, V445P, G446S, L452R, Y453F, N460K, S477N, E484A/K, F486S/V and Q498R.  Several of the antibodies are able to simultaneously bind to the spike protein and are compatible for use in combination therapies. 
      This technology is available for licensing for commercial development in accordance with 35 U.S.C. § 209 and 37 CFR Part 404.