Synthetic Antibody Demonstrates Omicron Detection

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Published: January 21, 2022

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MIP Diagnostics Ltd. has announced that its synthetic SARS-CoV-2 antibody (COVID-19 nanoMIP^TM) can detect the Omicron variant as well as previously proven Alpha, Beta, Delta and Gamma variants of the COVID-19 virus.

MIP Diagnostics, the leading manufacturer of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) - commonly termed synthetic antibodies - has demonstrated that its COVID-19 nanoMIP^TM can detect the increasingly dominant Omicron variant. The synthetic antibody has already been shown to detect the other variants of concern - Alpha, Beta, Delta and Gamma.

Initial assessment using pharmaceutical grade molecular modelling software demonstrated the COVID-19 nanoMIP^TM should be able to detect the Omicron variant, and this has now been confirmed via laboratory testing. The COVID-19 nanoMIP^TM was shown to detect the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant spike protein (Native Antigen Company) in buffer using surface plasmon resonance (SPR), with a magnitude of specific response comparable to other variants of the virus previously tested. Third party validation in a separate sensor device will be carried out shortly.

Originally developed in under 8 weeks, the MIP Diagnostics COVID-19 nanoMIP^TM offers IVD manufacturers a host of benefits including high selectivity and sensitivity demonstrated to the picogram level in a number of COVID-19 sensor devices. The robust nature of MIPs, when compared to antibodies, will also provide the superior shelf life and storage properties required by the IVD market as self-testing becomes more prevalent across multiple disease states following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking on the new data, Alan Thomson, CTO at MIP Diagnostics said, “In pandemic situations, a fast response is essential, and our advanced molecular modeling software had already been utilised to assess the performance of the COVID-19 nanoMIP against the Omicron variant in-silico. This new data has confirmed our initial findings, and not only demonstrates the capabilities of the COVID-19 nanoMIP, but also supports the wider progress toward robust, non-animal derived reagents in the IVD industry.”