Evec, Inc. (“Evec”), a member of the Kobe Biomedical Innovation Cluster (KBIC), has successfully developed a monoclonal antibody that neutralizes the mutant strain at low doses based on blood donated by patients with new coronavirus infection, and has now developed an antibody that neutralizes the mutant strain Omicron BA.2. It was confirmed that the strain also showed high neutralizing activity. This work has been published in the Antiviral Research on 24 March.

Antiviral Research article: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35341809/

Evec has strong technology for the production of fully human antibodies that neutralize viruses and other agents that cause infectious diseases. Since April 2020, Evec has been collaborating with several hospitals and research institutions in Japan to produce antibodies against for the virus (SARS-CoV) that causes new coronavirus infections. Recently, Evec has developed monoclonal antibodies that neutralizes the conventional strain, alpha strain, delta strain and other mutant strains at low doses that are frequently affected in Japan.　This announcement is based on the outcome that the antibodies also showed high neutralizing activity against Omicron BA.2 strains.

Evec received grant for research and development from Kobe Biomedical Innovation Cluster in 2020, and have conducted the joint research with the Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital. Evec has been developing its business in KBIC, and will continue to grow by collaborating with domestic and foreign pharmaceutical companies to develop new coronavirus treatments.

About Evec

Evec is a bio-venture company established in January 2003, based in Sapporo, aiming to commercialize the technology and knowledge of Professor Emeritus Kenzo Takada of Hokkaido University on the EB virus. It is capable of developing human monoclonal antibodies for a wide range of therapeutic areas out of human peripheral blood. In 2008, Evec has become the first Japanese bio-venture to license its technology to a major overseas pharmaceutical company.

Evec Inc. Website: https://www.evec.jp/