“Value of research conducted within academic institutions will be better appreciated in future”

Founded in 2009, Melbourne-based Affinity Biosciences, whose key focus is on discovering antibodies for cancer therapeutics, is now working on antibodies for COVID-19.

- Ayesha Siddiqui

The neutralizing antibodies under trial could be useful for vaccine development for a rapid therapy or to protect people in high-risk situations such as healthcare workers or people in direct contact with COVID-19 patients. In an email interview with us, Dr Peter Smith, CEO, Affinity Biosciences, Australia, shares with us key insights into their COVID-19 antibody therapy and the biotech industry in Australia. Edited excerpts;

What are your reflections on the COVID-19 situation?

Globally, the biotech industry has risen to the challenge with an amazing degree of collaboration and urgency. There will be relatively few winners out of all of this activity but, if we are to get the pandemic fully under control, there will be a need for multiple sources of vaccines, antibodies and other therapeutics. It will be fascinating to see how well new technologies like the RNA vaccines work.

What is your role in the global race to find a cure?