BARDA, DiaSorin expand partnership to pursue COVID-19 antibody test

A SARS-CoV-2 antibody test conceived by DiaSorin Inc. will benefit from an expanded partnership between its creator and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), the pair announced this week.

The enhanced immunoassay detects SARS-CoV-2 — the virus that causes COVID-19 — antibodies in human serum and plasma among the recently infected. This would allow doctors to determine patient exposure and, potentially, immune status, which could be of particular value to essential workers and the immuno-compromised. Conversely, it could also tell if patients lack resistance to the virus.

DiaSorin will develop, validate, manufacture, market, and pursue both U.S. and worldwide regulatory authorization for the test. The company also raised the prospect of pairing the test with any COVID-19 vaccines that might receive approval or authorization, owing to its immunity confirmation potential.