Scientific research company IAVI, the Serum Institute of India Pvt Ltd, India and Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany on Thursday signed a partnership for the co development of neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The collaboration will leverage each partner's remarkable expertise, geographic presence and infrastructure to develop the neutralizing monoclonal antibodies neutralizing to fight COVID-19 and ensure timely and equitable global access.

Unique among the various agreements for the development of monoclonal antibodies to fight COVID-19, the partnership is aimed at ensuring access to a class of innovative therapies that, so far, have been out of reach of low and middle countries income.

In addition, the neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are reportedly co-invented by IAVI and Scripps Research. The partners are committed in developing an anti-COVID-19 treatment, with equal global access as the primary goal.