SAB: This treatment showed "potent neutralization of the Omicron variant" in lab testing.
The COVID-19 antibody treatment developed by Sioux Falls-based SAB Biotherapeutics has neutralized the Omicron variant in FDA laboratory testing, the company reported.
SAB-185, which is also going through phase 3 clinical trials, “retains neutralization activity” against the new, rapidly-spreading variant according to data generated by scientists at the US Food and Drug Administration Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research.
“These in vitro data demonstrate that SAB-185 retains neutralization activity against the Omicron variant as has been consistently shown with previous SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern,” said Eddie Sullivan, co-founder, President and CEO of SAB Biotherapeutics, in a statement.
“These encouraging data come at a critical time as COVID continues to assert its resilience in the human population around the globe. It also provides further evidence of the potential therapeutic importance of our polyclonal antibody approach to a highly mutating virus such as SARS-CoV-2.”
While there was a mild to moderate reduction in potency, SAB-185 still showed “potent neutralization of the Omicron variant,” according to FDA research.
“As a targeted, high potency fully-human polyclonal antibody therapeutic candidate, SAB-185 is highly differentiated in the way by which it can address viral mutation potentially providing a more broadly active treatment option against COVID variants,” Sullivan said. “In addition to the retained neutralization activity of SAB-185 to the Omicron variant, it’s also important to note that there are multiple properties of polyclonal antibodies that can potentially provide therapeutic benefit to patients. For example, polyclonal antibodies can effectively block receptors used for viral entry by binding to multiple epitopes on the receptor binding domain, and they also may activate immune effector cells, further enhancing the individual’s immune response.”
SAB-185 also has neutralized the Munich, South African, Delta, Lambda, and other circulating variant strains in nonclinical studies. Preclinical data has also indicated that SAB-185 is” significantly more potent” than plasma from humans who have recovered from the virus.
“Our versatile platform provides the capability to quickly add strains and adjust to new variants. We’re moving to optimize SAB-185 by adding activity directed to the Omicron variant,” added Christoph Bausch, chief scientific officer of SAB Biotherapeutics. “SAB remains committed to monitoring the course of the disease and aiming to provide a polyclonal therapeutic response. We look forward to working with our US government collaborators and regulatory authorities to advance our COVID-19 program, with the goal of making SAB-185 available to patients, as quickly as possible once its clinical efficacy is confirmed.”