Expanding Antigen Supply for COVID-19, Zika, and Others

[Asia Economy Reporter Junho Hwang] The supply of antigens and antibodies for the development of diagnostic devices for viral infectious diseases will be expanded.

The Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology announced on the 4th that it will supply 46 types of antigens, including the nucleoprotein of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) virus, and 26 types of antibodies.

The Bio Nano Health Guard Research Group at KRIBB has decided to expand the supply of COVID-19 antigens and others it developed in-house to support technology development companies of immunodiagnostic devices.

The research group was launched in September 2013 to develop core technologies for rapid on-site detection, monitoring, and early diagnosis of national disaster-type biohazardous materials. Since then, it has developed core technologies necessary for diagnosing various infectious diseases, including influenza and mosquito-borne diseases such as Zika virus. Currently, it has secured 45 types of diagnostic antigens and 26 types of antibodies.

In particular, the research group secured four diagnostic antigens for the COVID-19 virus using genetic recombination technology. It is supplying antigens to a total of 14 companies, including two companies that developed antibody diagnostic devices that have applied for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the US FDA.

Research Group Leader Yongbeom Shin stated, "By utilizing the developed antigens and antibodies, we expect to support the rapid development of diagnostic technologies that can quickly diagnose infectious diseases with epidemic potential in the future."

Information on antigen and antibody supply can be found on the COVID-19 Response R&D Support Council Secretariat and the KRIBB website.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.