Biopharmaceutical company Neurimmune AG said on Tuesday that it will develop mRNA-encoded, neutralizing anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies administered by inhalation for the treatment of all COVID-19 patients, under an exclusive partnership with Ethris GmbH.

Under the partnership, Neurimmune will leverage its RTM Technology in developing human antibodies based on high-throughput immunoglobulin sequence analyses from recovered COVID-19 patients with Ethris' pulmonary SNIMRNA therapeutics platform. The potent neutralizing antibodies will be translated into therapeutic SNIMRNA products for inhalation.

The partnership will develop an immunotherapy designed to produce therapeutic antibodies directly in the lungs of affected patients. The first product candidate is expected to begin clinical testing in the fourth quarter of 2020, pending regulatory approval. The companies will initiate manufacturing of the drug product for clinical trials this summer and will inform about progress and its advances.

Based on Ethris' mRNA technology, the production of specific, neutralizing antibodies directly in patients' lungs provides the opportunity to significantly impact the viral lung disease that is the primary driver of morbidity and mortality.

In conjunction, the partnership will jointly conduct research and development activities, while sharing costs and revenues.