On Aug. 17, 2020, XBiotech announced that it had identified True Human antibodies that could potentially be used as a therapy against SARS-CoV2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The Company discovered these antibodies through a collaboration with BioBridge Global (parent organization of the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center and QualTex Laboratories, one of the largest independent testing laboratories in the U.S.

For the collaboration, BioBridge Global used XBiotech’s proprietary COVID-19 screening technology to identify blood donors who had been infected by the novel coronavirus, as part of a program to provide convalescent plasma to treat patients suffering from severe COVID-19 infections. In return, BioBridge Global provided XBiotech with blood samples from patients who had been infected with COVID-19. For its antibody discovery process, XBiotech selected blood samples from patients who had recovered rapidly from the virus without serious illness—factors that indicated these donors had antibodies that were highly effective at protecting them against the virus.

It was only May 21, 2020 that XBiotech received its donor blood and launched its discovery program for COVID-19 True Human antibodies. Today, XBiotech now has a number of True Human antibodies that precisely block the COVID-19 virus’ ability to be infectious and at the same time enable the body to naturally clear the virus.