AbCellera has announced that LY-CoV555, a human antibody discovered by AbCellera in collaboration with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Vaccine Research Center (VRC) and co-developed with Lilly as a potential treatment and prophylaxis for COVID-19, has progressed to Phase 3 clinical trials.
A first-of-its-kind, the Lilly-sponsored trial will use customized mobile research units to conduct the study at long-term care facilities across the United States. The study will include up to 2,400 participants and assess the ability of LY-CoV555 to prevent infection of long-term care residents and facility staff who have been exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
LY-CoV555 is a neutralizing antibody against SARS-CoV-2 that emerged from AbCellera’s collaboration with Lilly.
Identified in early March, LY-CoV555 was the world’s first therapeutic candidate specifically developed against SARS-CoV-2 to enter human clinical trials. LY-CoV555 is also the fastest therapeutic antibody molecule ever developed, moving from first screen to clinical testing in 90 days. LY-CoV555 advanced to Phase 2 clinical trials on June 17th.
“Lilly’s speed and resolve in advancing LY-CoV555 into Phase 2 and 3 studies has been remarkable and gives hope to all of us,” said Carl Hansen, Ph.D., CEO of AbCellera.
“This pandemic has shown us that therapies can be developed much faster than was thought possible. For AbCellera, it affirms our core belief that making long-term commitments in teams and technology is the key to quickly bringing new treatments to the patients who need them.”
Last week AbCellera was named the winner of Fast Company’s Innovative Team of the Year award for bringing the first COVID-19 antibody to clinical trials in under 90 days.