CSIR aims to develop human monoclonal antibodies (hmAbs) to neutralize SARS-CoV-2

The CSIR through its New Millennium Indian Technology Leadership Initiative (NMITLI) program, has approved a multi-institutional project to develop human monoclonal antibodies (hmAbs) that can neturalise coronavirus in patients.

New Delhi: The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has approved a multi-institutional project to develop human monoclonal antibodies (hmAbs) that can neutralize SARS-CoV-2 in patients.

“CSIR through its flagship New Millennium Indian Technology Leadership Initiative (NMITLI) program approved the multi-institutional project to neutralize SARS-CoV-2 in patients,” officials said.

This project on the generation of neutralizing human monoclonal antibodies as a therapeutic strategy will be implemented by a multi-institutional and multi-disciplinary team.

The team comprises of academic institutes and industry with participants from NCCS, IIT-Indore, PredOmix Technologies Pvt. Ltd. and Bharat Biotech International Ltd (BBIL).

The project aims to generate hmAbs to SARS-CoV-2 from the convalescent phase of COVID-19 patients and select high affinity and neutralizing antibodies.

The project also aims to anticipate future adaptation of the virus and generate hmAbs clones that can neutralize the mutated virus so that could be readily used for combating future SARS-CoV infections.

BBIL will be the commercial partner and responsible for subsequent development and commercialization of the hmAbs generated.

“As the research into SARS-CoV-2 is in early days and our understanding is evolving each day, it is critical that we need to deploy all possible strategies to combat the virus. Hence, CSIR is exploring all avenues and we are supporting new ideas which have clear deployment strategy,” said Dr Shekhar C Mande, DG CSIR.

CSIR labs are also developing technologies and products and are working with industry and PSU partners for in its fight against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19).