(Yicai Global) Feb. 26 -- China's WuXi Biologics and US-based Vir Biotechnology have penned a deal to cooperate on research to develop fully human monoclonal antibodies for the for the treatment of Covid-19.

The pair plan to commercialize Vir's advanced antibody for the disease, The Paper reported, saying WuXi will provide support in developing antibody cell lines and early clinical development. Once approved by regulators, WuXi will have the rights to sell the products in China while Vir will have rights to the rest of the world.

Covid-19 is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, according to the International Virus Classification Commission, and Vir has successfully isolated and identified antibodies that bind to SARS-CoV-2 from survivors of a SARS infection. It is researching whether these or other recognizable antibodies can effectively treat or prevent SARS-CoV-2.

WuXi Biologics runs a leading global open-access biologics technology platform that initially provided customers with cell line cultivation and protein analysis services. It expanded its business to include new biological drug discovery and development and biological testing, and adheres to Good Manufacturing Practices.

Vir is mostly engaged in clinical stage biotechnology and explores key steps in the innate immune process to strengthen immune systems. It has five candidate treatments for hepatitis B, influenza A, human immunodeficiency virus and tuberculosis.

Editor: James Boynton