CoV-X2 / Joint Research Centre, Technical University of Braunschweig, Karolinska Institute, IRCCS San Matteo University Hospital Foundation, IRB Bellinzona - LARVOL DELTA

Adapting Neutralizing Antibodies to Viral Variants by Structure-Guided Affinity Maturation Using Phage Display Technology. (PubMed, Glob Chall) - "As proof of concept, the method is applied to CoV-X2, a human bispecific antibody that binds with high affinity to the early SARS-CoV-2 variants but lost neutralization potency against Delta. Antibodies emerging from the affinity maturation selection exhibit significantly improved neutralization potency against Delta and no loss of efficacy against the other viral sequences tested. These results illustrate the potential application of structure-guided affinity maturation in facilitating the rapid adaptation of neutralizing antibodies to pathogen variants."

Journal • Infectious Disease • Novel Coronavirus Disease • Respiratory Diseases

Human Bispecific Antibodies against Infectious Diseases (PEGS 2022) - "We developed CoV-X2, a fully human, IgG-like bispecific antibody rationally engineered to bind simultaneously to two sites on the SARS-CoV-2 Spike (Nature, 2021); it potently neutralizes all variants of concern, protects from the virus both prophylactically and therapeutically, and prevents formation of viral escape mutants in vivo. Bispecifics against Zika (Cell 2017) and Prion also had synergistic properties beyond those of the parental monoclonals. Simultaneous targeting of non-overlapping epitopes by IgG-like bispecific antibodies is feasible and effective against infectious diseases, combining the advantages of antibody cocktails with those of single-molecule approaches."

Infectious Disease • Novel Coronavirus Disease • Respiratory Diseases

A Online-delivered Cognitive-behavioral Intervention for Dysfunctional Worry Related to the Covid-19 Pandemic (clinicaltrials.gov) - P=N/A; N=670; Not yet recruiting; Sponsor: Karolinska Institutet

Clinical • New trial

COVID-19-HBO: Safety and Efficacy of Hyperbaric Oxygen for ARDS in Patients With COVID-19 (clinicaltrials.gov) - P2/3; N=200; Not yet recruiting; Sponsor: Karolinska University Hospital

Clinical • New P2/3 trial