Sanford is first in nation to test new COVID-19 treatment

Sioux Falls-based SAB Biotherapeutics' therapy ready for human clinical trial

Sanford is first in nation to test new COVID-19 treatment

Sanford Health is the first site in the U.S. to enroll patients in a Phase 1b trial of a new therapy designed to treat people with mild to moderate COVID-19 at an early stage.

The clinical trial will enroll 21 adult patients across several clinical sites.

The new therapy, SAB-185, is a first-of-its-kind human polyclonal antibody therapeutic candidate developed by SAB Biotherapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company familiar to Sanford Health. SAB is housed at Sanford Research in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Related: Clinical trial begins for critically ill COVID-19 patients

“Today’s milestone underscores our relentless commitment to advancing the science of medicine to ensure our patients benefit from new discoveries as quickly as possible,” said David A. Pearce, Ph.D., president of innovation and research at Sanford Health. “Working with SAB Biotherapeutics on this clinical trial gives us an opportunity to deliver on our promise to patients.”

SAB has gained national attention, along with $72 million in government funding, during the rapid development of SAB-185 for its potential to treat COVID-19 patients.

SAB’s platform uses genetically engineered cattle to produce fully human antibodies, resulting in antibody products, or immunotherapies, that target specific pathogens. The COVID-19 therapy deploys the same natural immune response to fight the disease as recovered patients, but with a much higher concentration of antibodies.

“We are eager to participate in this clinical trial to investigate the safety of SAB-185,” said Dr. Susan Hoover, principal investigator and an infectious disease physician at Sanford Health. “… Our goal is to advance the science around COVID-19 so physicians can be better prepared to treat this novel coronavirus in the future, especially for our populations most at risk.”

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Posted In Company News, COVID-19, Research