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Therapeutic antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 based on camelid nanobodies
EP22382222
CSIC and the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria have developed a panel of high affinity nanobodies (Nb) binding to diverse SARS-CoV-2 RBD epitopes of spike protein, and a set of nanobodyderived neutralizing heavy chain antibodies (hcAbs) with therapeutic potential in vivo, as they can protect hACE2-transgenic mice after infection with a lethal dose of SARS-CoV-2.
- The invention includes a panel of nanobodies (MW ≈ 14 KDa) clones and human IgG1 heavy chain Fc-fused molecules (MW ≈ 80 KDa). - The molecules have been humanized and can be expressed in mammalian-cells and purified from culture media. - The antibodies have shown potent neutralization capacity for different SARS-CoV-2 virus variants (alpha, beta, gamma and delta). - The monovalent molecules have very high affinity (subnanomolar range) to receptor binding domain (RBD) of spike SARS-CoV-2 protein and compete with the RBD-ACE2 human receptor interaction. - A cocktail based on two of antibodies identified have the potential to become a new therapy against SARS-CoV-2 variants for immunocompromised or high-risk severe disease subjects.