Also signs Definitive Commercial Agreement
with University of Victoria
VICTORIA, BC, Oct. 8, 2020 /CNW/ - IMMUNOPRECISE
ANTIBODIES LTD. (the "Company" or "IPA") (TSXV: IPA) (OTCQB: IPATF)
(FSE: TQB2), a leader in full-service, therapeutic antibody
discovery and development, today announced an update on their
NSERC-funded partnership with the University
of Victoria for the generation of a real-time cell-phone
based COVID-19 antibody diagnostic test.
In May, the Company announced the partnership objective to
develop a colorimetric, easy to use, saliva test for the detection
and screening of SARS-CoV-2. The test is designed to have a
detectable color change that can be easily measured using a cell
phone camera and application. The results, including the general
location (by zone rather than by specific household, to comply with
privacy rights) of the test, can be uploaded to a cloud-hosted
database. This will provide immediate information about the number
of infections and the general locations to the health
authorities.
Dr. Alexandre Brolo's lab at the University of Victoria has succeeded in optimizing
the chemistry to be used in a critical part of the diagnostic
application- the consistent modification of strips with
nanoparticles that present a distinct color change upon the binding
of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 proteins.
As an additional milestone in the development of the diagnostic,
Dr. Brolo's research team, well known for their historical work in
the development of diagnostics for the Zika virus, has designed and
3D-printed a reader prototype enabling the use of the diagnostic
application within a standard mobile phone.
As a prototype proof of concept, the research team at the
University of Victoria has demonstrated
significant and detectable color change when testing the use of the
diagnostic with a commercial mobile phone app. The test has been
further validated using an assay demonstrating the flow of
validated human IgG antibody samples across the surface of the
nanoparticle-coated strip containing SARS-CoV-2 antigen.
Antibodies developed for diagnostic purposes require broad
epitope coverage, high specificity, low background noise and
heightened affinity. Monoclonal antibodies with these
characteristics can detect nuanced differences between similar
molecules more readily, to avoid false positive results.
The rabbit's immune system is unique in that it creates highly
diverse repertoire of antibodies via its unique gene conversion
mechanism and the antibodies themselves have more variation in
length and sequence compared to rodents and humans. Rabbit
antibodies can identify epitopes on molecules that are
non-immunogenic in other species.
The combination of ImmunoPrecise's B cell Select™ platform and
the rabbit's immune system produces antibodies particularly useful
for applications that require extremely low background to allow for
the detection and verification of low-level biomarkers with little
to no-cross reactivity. IPA has performed over 150 successful
diagnostic rabbit B cell programs, many of which have been for
point of care lateral flow assays.
"Rabbit monoclonal antibodies developed via our B cell Select™
platform consistently provide panels of highly specific,
non-cross-reactive antibodies which are adaptable to any
immunodiagnostic format," states Dr. Andra
Li, Scientific Director and co-developer of B cell
Select™.
Upon successful commercialization of the diagnostic kit,
ImmunoPrecise has committed to paying 5% of Global Net Revenue to
the University of Victoria.
About Brolo Group
Dr. Alexandre G. Brolo is a professor at the
University of Victoria in Canada where he directs an innovative,
multidisciplinary and high-impact research program that spans the
areas of nanotechnology, surface spectroscopy, electrochemistry and
bioanalytical chemistry. Dr. Brolo's research is centered on the
optical and spectroscopic properties of metallic nanostructures
that support a physical phenomenon called "surface plasmon
excitation". His work explores the fabrication, characterization,
and application of these metallic nanostructures in biosensing and
in enhanced spectroscopy, particularly in their use for remote
chemical sensing and in combination with microfluidics. Dr. Brolo
has published more than 150 research papers in top international
journals and conference proceedings and presented on numerous
occasions.
About ImmunoPrecise Antibodies Ltd.
ImmunoPrecise is a
global technology platform company with end-to-end solutions
empowering companies to discover and develop therapies against any
disease. The Company's experience and cutting-edge technologies
enable unparalleled support of its partners in their quest to bring
innovative treatments to the clinic. ImmunoPrecise's full-service
capabilities dramatically reduce the time required for, and the
inherent risk associated with, conventional multi-vendor product
development. For further information, visit www.immunoprecise.com
or contact solutions@immunoprecise.com.
Forward Looking Information
This news release
contains statements that, to the extent they are not recitations of
historical fact, may constitute "forward-looking statements" within
the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. The Company
uses words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "likely",
"expect", "believe", "intend", "should" and similar expressions to
identify forward-looking statements and include the Company's
beliefs with respect to the potential for its antibodies to be
further developed or approved to detect SARS-CoV-2 or to
complete any transactions with respect to those antibodies. Any
such forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and
analyses made by ImmunoPrecise in light of its experience and its
perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected
future developments. However, whether actual results and
developments will conform to ImmunoPrecise's expectations and
predictions is subject to any number of risks, assumptions and
uncertainties. Many factors could cause ImmunoPrecise's actual
results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the
forward-looking statements contained in this news release. Such
factors include, among other things, actual revenues and earnings
for IPA being lower than anticipated, and those risks and
uncertainties described in ImmunoPrecise's annual management
discussion and analysis for the previous quarter ended July 31, 2020 which can be accessed at
www.sedar.com. The "forward-looking statements" contained herein
speak only as of the date of this press release and, unless
required by applicable law, ImmunoPrecise undertakes no obligation
to publicly update or revise such information, whether as a result
of new information, future events or otherwise.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX
Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release.
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SOURCE ImmunoPrecise Antibodies Ltd.