Grifols Among Federal Partners Working to Develop Virus Therapy

The Department of Health and Human Services is partnering with the American Red Cross and three biotechnology companies to develop immunotherapies for patients with Covid-19, it announced Monday.

The HHS’s Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority will work with Emergent BioSolutions, Grifols USA, and SAb Biotherapeutics. The aim is to see if they can use the antibodies from people who have survived Covid-19 to stimulate the immune systems of those who are currently ill, the HHS said.

“Together, we are hyper focused on a single goal, to save lives,” said BARDA Director Rick Bright. BARDA helps develop countermeasures against emerging diseases.

The American Red Cross and Grifols will help collect plasma, which may contain antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19. Emergent BioSolutions and Grifols will take the collected plasma and make a product called hyberimmune globulin that concentrates those antibodies. SAb Biotherapeutics will develop the immunotherapy and conduct preclinical trials, the HHS said in its announcement late Monday.