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XBiotech Identifies “Super Bloods” for the Development of a True Human™ COVID-19 Therapy
Donors with Potent Natural Immunity Against the Virus are Identified as the Starting Point for XBiotech’s Drug Development Program to Treat COVID-19 AUSTIN,
About this update from Xbiotech Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"Donors with Potent Natural Immunity Against the Virus are Identified as the Starting Point for XBiotech’s Drug Development Program to Treat COVID-19\n AUSTIN, Texas, May 01, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- XBiotech Inc. (NASDAQ: XBIT) announced today that human immune donors have now been identified that can support the Company’s development of a True Human™ antibody therapy for COVID-19. XBiotech recently developed and transferred screening technology to South Texas Blood & Tissue Center (STBTC), a blood donor organization, that enables blood donors that have COVID-19 immunity to be identified. In collaboration with STBTC, XBiotech scientists have been searching for ideal blood donors with strong natural immunity to COVID-19 to begin its True Human™ antibody discovery process. XBiotech scientists have focused their search to find blood donors that have both very high levels of antibodies against COVID-19 and at the same time do not have a history of a serious illness from the virus. XBiotech believes that individuals with evidence of a vigorous antibody response against COVID-19 in the absence of a history of serious illness are ideal for identifying antibodies that could serve as a powerful therapy against the virus. XBiotech scientists are now receiving these exclusive blood samples from STBTC and have begun its proprietary discovery process to isolate the unique genetic information or genes responsible for producing the antibodies in the donors. “There is no other research or pharmaceutical organization better prepared with the technology and capabilities of XBiotech to identify and develop antibody therapies derived from natural human immunity” commented John Simard, XBiotech’s CEO. He further stated, “The COVID-19 crisis brings into sharp relief the unique position of XBiotech to address existing and emerging unmet medical needs for infectious diseases.” About XBiotech XBiotech is a fully integrated, global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to pioneering the discovery, development and commercialization of therapeutic antibodies. XBiotech currently is advancing a pipeline of therapies by harnessing naturally occurring antibodies from patients with immunity to certain diseases. Utilizing natural human immunity as a source of new medicines offers the potential to redefine the standards of care for a wide range of diseases. On Dece...