Ottawa announced it is directing $176 million to AbCellera Biologics Inc to help it find naturally produced antibodies that could be used to battle the coronavirus outbreak, and to break ground on a B.C. manufacturing facility.
Federal Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains said AbCellera had identified over 500 antibodies from a patient who has recovered from COVID-19.
“This funding is instrumental in accelerating and expanding AbCellera’s capabilities to combat COVID-19. AbCellera and its partners expect clinical trials to begin in July 2020 or earlier,” he said in a statement to Reuters.
The money will also help the firm to build a Vancouver facility that can manufacture antibodies for clinical testing, he added.
AbCellera said in March it was working with Eli Lilly and Co to co-develop antibody products for the treatment and prevention of COVID-19, a flu-like disease caused by the coronavirus.
(Reuters)
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