Vancouver Biotech Firm Finding Antibodies to Treat COVID-19

A medical laboratory scientist runs a clinical test in the Immunology lab at UW Medicine looking for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, a virus strain that causes CCP virus disease (COVID-19) in Seattle, Wash., on April 17, 2020. Karen Ducey/Getty Images

VANCOUVER—There may be another valuable shield in the fight against COVID-19, and the head of a Vancouver biotech firm says it could buy time as researchers race to develop a vaccine.

Carl Hansen, CEO of AbCellera Biologics Inc., said a drug built with antibodies could be used to protect vulnerable populations until a vaccine is more widely available.