Serology4COVID consortium creates test for COVID-19 immunity

Full Press Release available here.

iBET is part of Serology4COVID, a consortium devoted to create a serological test for the detection of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. The goal is to develop a higly sensitive serological test to be used at national level. The consortium comprises five scientific institutions from Lisbon and Oeiras: IGC, iMM, CEDOC-NMS, ITQB NOVA and iBET.

The tests that are being developed enable the detection of antibodies in people asymptomatic for COVID-19, allowing a more complete characterization of the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 virus on Portuguese society. This information is key when developing new management strategies to control the spread of the virus and to minimize its impact in health, society and in the economy.

The role of iBET in the Serology4COVID consortium is to produce viral antigens in record time through iBET’s Bioproduction Unit. Our previous experience in the production of proteins for the pharmaceutical industry ensures delivering high quality product enabling the development of high performance tests.

Paula Alves, CEO of iBET, underlines that iBET “joined this project to help the country, so that locally it is possible to guarantee the quantity and quality of antigens needed for the development of the serological test, in this particularly critical phase“

The other institutions of the Serology4COVID consortium are responsible for coordinating the implementation and validation of tests with blood samples from people who have been infected with SARS-CoV-2. The first trials are already underway.

This initiative is supported by the COVID-19 Emergency Fund of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Fundação Francisco Manuel dos Santos and the Oeiras City Council.