Variants of SARS-CoV-2

Eurofins Expands Its Global Sequencing and Mutation-Specific PCR Capabilities to Detect COVID-19 Variants of Concern and of Interest

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, May 25, 2021
Health, Infectious diseases, Genetics, Other Science, Research, Science, Eurofins Scientific, COVID-19, Articles, Medicine, Health, Variants of SARS-CoV-2

Eurofins (Paris:ERF) continues to develop innovative COVID-19 testing solutions and has now reached two important milestones.

Key Points: 
  • Eurofins (Paris:ERF) continues to develop innovative COVID-19 testing solutions and has now reached two important milestones.
  • Eurofins ARTIC SARS-CoV-2 Whole Genome Sequencing service includes NGS and detailed reporting for universal end-to-end surveillance of pandemic development, tracking the emergence and dynamics of existing and new mutational Variants of Concern.
  • This enables accurate lineage and variant identification and surveillance of emerging and spreading Variants of Concern.
  • Eurofins has also reached the milestone of over 24 million COVID-19 PCR tests completed since the start of the pandemic.

Synairgen announces results of in vitro studies showing antiviral activity of interferon beta against key SARS-CoV-2 variants

Retrieved on: 
Monday, May 24, 2021
Antiviral drugs, Medical specialties, Biology, Interferon, Branches of biology, Broad-spectrum antiviral drug, Variants of SARS-CoV-2, Antiviral protein, COVID-19 drug repurposing research

Interferon beta ('IFN-beta') is a naturally-occurring protein, which orchestrates the body's antiviral responses by triggering the production of hundreds of antiviral proteins which act across the viral replication cycle to confer broad-spectrum antiviral activity.

Key Points: 
  • Interferon beta ('IFN-beta') is a naturally-occurring protein, which orchestrates the body's antiviral responses by triggering the production of hundreds of antiviral proteins which act across the viral replication cycle to confer broad-spectrum antiviral activity.
  • In vitro experiments were conducted at Viroclinics-DDL in the Netherlands to confirm that SNG001 had activity against the B.1.1.7 (UK or Kent) and B.1.351 (South African) variants.
  • Concentrations, readily achievable following inhaled delivery of interferon beta, that gave 90% inhibition (IC90) were 3.2, 4.0 and 3.4 IU/mL respectively.
  • Richard Marsden, CEO of Synairgen, added: As expected, these data confirm that SNG001 is a broad-spectrum antiviral product, now also demonstrating applicability against SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Synairgen announces results of in vitro studies showing antiviral activity of interferon beta against key SARS-CoV-2 variants

Retrieved on: 
Monday, May 24, 2021
Antiviral drugs, Medical specialties, Biology, Interferon, Branches of biology, Broad-spectrum antiviral drug, Variants of SARS-CoV-2, Antiviral protein, COVID-19 drug repurposing research

Interferon beta ('IFN-beta') is a naturally-occurring protein, which orchestrates the body's antiviral responses by triggering the production of hundreds of antiviral proteins which act across the viral replication cycle to confer broad-spectrum antiviral activity.

Key Points: 
  • Interferon beta ('IFN-beta') is a naturally-occurring protein, which orchestrates the body's antiviral responses by triggering the production of hundreds of antiviral proteins which act across the viral replication cycle to confer broad-spectrum antiviral activity.
  • In vitro experiments were conducted at Viroclinics-DDL in the Netherlands to confirm that SNG001 had activity against the B.1.1.7 (UK or Kent) and B.1.351 (South African) variants.
  • Concentrations, readily achievable following inhaled delivery of interferon beta, that gave 90% inhibition (IC90) were 3.2, 4.0 and 3.4 IU/mL respectively.
  • Richard Marsden, CEO of Synairgen, added: As expected, these data confirm that SNG001 is a broad-spectrum antiviral product, now also demonstrating applicability against SARS-CoV-2 variants.

EMA Issues Positive Scientific Opinion on GSK and Vir Biotechnology’s Sotrovimab For the Early Treatment of COVID-19

Retrieved on: 
Friday, May 21, 2021
Variants of SARS-CoV-2, Medical specialties, Clinical medicine, Medicine, Immunology, COVID-19 pandemic in India, Lineage B.1.617, bioRxiv, Monoclonal antibody, Epitope

Based on our most recent in vitro data, sotrovimab continues to combat COVID-19 as it evolves and has retained activity against all circulating variants of concern.

Key Points: 
  • Based on our most recent in vitro data, sotrovimab continues to combat COVID-19 as it evolves and has retained activity against all circulating variants of concern.
  • As a result, the Independent Data Monitoring Committee recommended that the trial be stopped for enrollment due to evidence of profound efficacy.
  • Additional in vitro data demonstrating activity against variants from New York (B.1.526) and India (B.1.617) were also recently published by bioRxiv.
  • Sotrovimab targets a conserved epitope of the spike protein which is less likely to mutate over time.

RenBio Completes $24 Million Series A Financing and Licenses Novel SARS-CoV-2 Bispecific Antibody from Columbia University

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, May 20, 2021
Medical specialties, Immunology, Health, Medicine, Variants of SARS-CoV-2, Antibody, COVID-19

b'NEW YORK, May 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- RenBio , a privately-held, preclinical biotechnology company developing novel, best-in-class antiviral antibody therapeutics and a next-generation antibody delivery platform, today announced that it has completed a $24 million Series A financing, led by Taiwan-based Ruentex Group.

Key Points: 
  • b'NEW YORK, May 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- RenBio , a privately-held, preclinical biotechnology company developing novel, best-in-class antiviral antibody therapeutics and a next-generation antibody delivery platform, today announced that it has completed a $24 million Series A financing, led by Taiwan-based Ruentex Group.
  • The company has also signed a license agreement with Columbia University, giving RenBio the exclusive worldwide development and commercialization rights to a novel bispecific antibody (RB-100) for COVID-19 that was developed in the lab of David D. Ho, M.D.
  • of Columbia University and targets two distinct sites on the spike of SARS-CoV-2.
  • The company\'s lead compound, RB-100, is a SARS-CoV-2 bispecific antibody in-licensed from Columbia University, that, in preclinical studies, has demonstrated robust antiviral activity against emerging and evolving SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Global is Going Mobile; Global WholeHealth Partners Corp (GWHP-OTC) has Signed an Agreement With Dr. Vu Le to be the Medical Director for the CLIA WAIVED Mobile Laboratory

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, May 20, 2021
Variants of SARS-CoV-2, Medical specialties, Branches of biology, Zoonoses, Health, Sarbecovirus, COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, Lineage B.1.1.7, Peplomer, Virus, Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, Antibody

Global WholeHealth Partners Corp (OTC: GWHP) states that the Antibody IgG/IgM tests that they offer are capable of detecting all the current identified SARS-CoV-2 viruses.

Key Points: 
  • Global WholeHealth Partners Corp (OTC: GWHP) states that the Antibody IgG/IgM tests that they offer are capable of detecting all the current identified SARS-CoV-2 viruses.
  • The strains identified in the United Kingdom (B.1.1.7), South Africa (B.1.351), and Brazil (P.1) strain contains multiple mutations, most reflected in the S gene, which encodes the spike protein.
  • Investors and security holders are urged to read these documents free of charge on the SEC\'s web site at http://www.sec.gov .
  • The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.\n'

ECDC releases new dashboard on SARS-CoV-2 variants

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, May 20, 2021
Coronaviridae, Variants of SARS-CoV-2, Sarbecovirus, Zoonoses, Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, Lineage B.1.617, Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, Lineage B.1.1.7

Data for the most recent reporting week have been excluded, as they may be incomplete.

Key Points: 
  • Data for the most recent reporting week have been excluded, as they may be incomplete.
  • The proportion of variants is only reliable when sequencing capacity is adequate (500 or 10% of total samples).
  • For TESSy data, no proportion of variants has been estimated where there is no reliable denominator available.
  • In addition, SARS-CoV-2 lineages B.1.617.1, B.1.617.2, and B.1.617.3, first reported in India in December 2020, have been increasingly detected in other countries.

GT Molecular Launches Highly Sensitive Multiplexed PCR Tests for the Indian Coronavirus Variant

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, May 19, 2021
Molecular biology, Laboratory techniques, Natural sciences, Branches of biology, Biology, Polymerase chain reaction, Biotechnology, Digital polymerase chain reaction, Real-time polymerase chain reaction, Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, Variants of SARS-CoV-2, Wastewater-based epidemiology

b"FORT COLLINS, Colo., May 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- GT Molecular, a company providing multiplexed, ultrasensitive PCR assays for wastewater-based epidemiology, cancer and pathogen panels for clinical labs, has started shipping its sensitive PCR tests to monitor the coronavirus variant, B.1.617.

Key Points: 
  • b"FORT COLLINS, Colo., May 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- GT Molecular, a company providing multiplexed, ultrasensitive PCR assays for wastewater-based epidemiology, cancer and pathogen panels for clinical labs, has started shipping its sensitive PCR tests to monitor the coronavirus variant, B.1.617.
  • The virus was first spotted in India and upgraded to a global variant of concern by the WHO.
  • It is sometimes referred to as the double mutant because it contains two mutations of concern and has been reported to be highly contagious and potentially capable of evading the immune system.\nA national wastewater-based epidemiology testing service in which sewage from communities around the country is tested for the presence of the key mutations that define the B.1.617 double mutant variant from India.\nUltrasensitive RT-PCR and dPCR reagent kits to empower academic, commercial, and public testing laboratories:\nThese new offerings add to GT Molecular's growing molecular assay catalog that includes SARS-CoV-2 multi-variant tests, cancer panels, multiplexed pathogen panels for clinical labs and quantitative standards.\nGT Molecular is a leader in providing highly customizable, ultrasensitive digital PCR and qPCR tests.
  • GTM's molecular app technology is an easy-to-use, end-to-end solution for rapid deployment and provides reliable and consistent measurements while detecting as little as 1-3 molecules of target nucleic acid.\n"

Celltrion Confirms Neutralising Potency Against Emerging SARS-CoV-2 Variants With Anti-COVID-19 Monoclonal Antibody Treatment regdanvimab (CT-P59)

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, May 18, 2021
Biotechnology, Infectious diseases, Health, Pharmaceutical, Clinical trials, Medical specialties, Zoonoses, Sarbecovirus, Medicine, Clinical medicine, Variants of SARS-CoV-2, XC2, Lineage B.1.1.7, COVID-19, Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, Monoclonal antibody

CT-P59 is known to successfully neutralise the SARS-CoV-2 variants first identified in the UK (B.1.1.7), California (B.1.427/B.1.429), Brazil (P.2), in addition to the previously identified six variant genome mutations of SARS-CoV-2 (variants S\xc2\xb7L\xc2\xb7V\xc2\xb7G\xc2\xb7GH\xc2\xb7GR).\n\xe2\x80\x9cThe emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants has created great concern across the globe.

Key Points: 
  • CT-P59 is known to successfully neutralise the SARS-CoV-2 variants first identified in the UK (B.1.1.7), California (B.1.427/B.1.429), Brazil (P.2), in addition to the previously identified six variant genome mutations of SARS-CoV-2 (variants S\xc2\xb7L\xc2\xb7V\xc2\xb7G\xc2\xb7GH\xc2\xb7GR).\n\xe2\x80\x9cThe emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants has created great concern across the globe.
  • \xe2\x80\x9cMonoclonal antibodies have the potential to alleviate symptoms and prevent progression to severe disease in patients with mild to moderate COVID-19.
  • Celltrion Healthcare endeavours to offer high-quality cost-effective solutions through an extensive global network that spans more than 110 different countries.
  • For more information please visit: https://www.celltrionhealthcare.com/en-us .\nCT-P59 was identified as a potential treatment for COVID-19 through screening of antibody candidates and selecting those that showed the highest potency in neutralising the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Clover Announces Positive Preclinical Data for Second-Generation Protein-Based COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate Demonstrating Broad Neutralization Against Variants of Concern

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, May 18, 2021
Variants of SARS-CoV-2, Coronaviridae, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 vaccines, Clinical trials, Sarbecovirus, Zoonoses, COVID-19 vaccine, Medical research, Lineage P.1, Lineage B.1.351, Lineage B.1.1.7

B.1.351 S-Trimer demonstrated broad neutralization against the original SARS-CoV-2 strain and variants of concern, specifically the South African variant (B.1.351), Brazil variant (P.1), and UK variant (B.1.1.7).

Key Points: 
  • B.1.351 S-Trimer demonstrated broad neutralization against the original SARS-CoV-2 strain and variants of concern, specifically the South African variant (B.1.351), Brazil variant (P.1), and UK variant (B.1.1.7).
  • Clover is at the forefront of vaccine R&D utilizing our proprietary Trimer-Tag technology and is the first company to disclose preclinical data demonstrating that a modified protein-based COVID-19 vaccine candidate can potentially induce broad neutralization against the original SARS-CoV-2 strain and variants of concern," said Joshua Liang, Chief Executive Officer of Clover Biopharmaceuticals.
  • As the SARS-CoV-2 virus mutates and additional data emerges, we are prepared to innovate and develop next-generation COVID-19 vaccines.
  • Any forward-looking statement made by us in this document speaks only as of the date on which it is made.