The company screened its library of 100 billion human antibodies to identify ones that could prevent the SARS-CoV-2 protein spike from binding to a receptor. Testing through the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity revealed its antibodies in a concentration of less than 10 micrograms per mililiter could neutralize the virus's infectivity.

An illustration of Affinity antibodies binding to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Image courtesy of Affinity.

Affinity will now explore expedited processes to begin antibody manufacturing for clinical studies. It will also look into clinical development pathways and discuss development and commercial distribution with governments, nongovernmental organizations, and pharmaceutical companies.

The antibodies are also part of a comparative study conducted by the La Jolla Institute for Immunology, which received funding from the COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator, a joint effort by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Wellcome Trust, Mastercard, and various philanthropists.