Benzinga | May 4, 2021 09:31AM EDT

AbCellera-Lilly Partnered Second COVID-19 Antibody Enters Human Trials

* AbCellera Biologics Inc (NASDAQ: ABCL) has announced that a second antibody from its collaboration with Eli Lilly and Co (NYSE: LLY), LY-CoV1404, has entered clinical trials in patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19.

* Lilly has expanded its ongoing BLAZE-4 trials to evaluate LY-CoV1404 alone and together with other monoclonal antibodies.

* AbCellera released preclinical data showing LY-CoV1404 binds to a rarely mutated region of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and neutralizes all currently known variants of concern, including those first identified in the U.K., South Africa, Brazil, California, and New York.

* LY-CoV1404 blocks viral binding to ACE2 by targeting a highly conserved epitope on the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein receptor binding domain.

* LY-CoV1404 is developed from a fully human monoclonal antibody identified from a blood sample obtained approximately 60 days after symptom onset from a convalescent COVID-19 patient.

* Price Action: ABCL shares are up 2.88% at $26, and LLY shares are up 0.69% at $187.20 on the last check Tuesday.