AbClon, a company specializing in developing antibodies, said Monday that it has deduced antibodies to neutralize the COVID-19, and began to develop a rapid test for antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus.

The company has selected 13 types of antibodies first, which it derived from its patented human antibody library. AbClon said it is planning to develop a COVID-19 treatment and antibody test kit in the shortest period of time.

It has been reported that SARS-CoV-2 binds its spike protein to a human cell receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), to infiltrate and infect humans.

AbClon will use its original monoclonal antibody platform, NEST, to develop an antibody treatment. The treatment is expected to neutralize the virus by binding specifically to a receptor binding domain that ACE2 binds to infect the human species.

“We have formed a task force to concentrate on research and develop of the therapeutic antibody in order to respond to the COVID-19 quickly,” the company official said. “AbClon expects it will be able to develop the therapy and antibody test kit as the 13 new COVID-19 antibodies at an early date, as they have been derived from the antibody library with high diversity and vitality.”

The company also said that the antibodies might show a therapeutic effect on their own. In many cases, however, they are used in combined modality therapies, it added, noting that the 13 newly derived antibodies could be developed as combination therapy or a bispecific antibody.

“AbClon will continue to work in cooperation with related organizations to develop cell strains and preclinical testing quickly to enter clinical trials for mass-production,” the official added.