Roche Launches Quantitative Test for Coronavirus Antibodies

   By Kim Richters

Swiss health-care giant Roche Holding AG said Friday that it is launching a new test to quantitatively measure the level of coronavirus antibodies.

Roche said the Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S antibody test would specifically target antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, which is responsible for binding to the host cell receptor.

"As the possibility of an effective SARS-CoV-2 vaccine becomes a reality, quantitative measurement of antibodies will be crucial in the evaluation of any potential vaccine," Thomas Schinecker, chief executive at Roche's diagnostics division, said.

"The new quantitative Elecsys antibody test can play a pivotal role in vaccine clinical trials as well as helping clinicians assess patients immune response," he said.

It is the 12th test in Roche's coronavirus portfolio and the company has filed for emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Write to Kim Richters at kim.richters@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

September 18, 2020 01:54 ET (05:54 GMT)

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