Webinar Description:

We need to transform the current SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic testing environment to enable the efficient testing of the entire population. To achieve this, a lateral flow antigen test is required. We aim to develop an antigen-based lateral flow test that will enable people to self-test cost-effectively at home without any specialized knowledge or equipment and be able to receive results within minutes. This will satisfy the dire need for diagnostic testing to reduce transmission and support returning to a pre-pandemic lifestyle along with returning to work efforts. The team is working to develop an antigen test, which will do exactly this. This test will help fill the gap between the need for large scale testing and the limitations of PCR-based tests, which have turnaround times from a matter of hours to days, requires specialized equipment, and depends on highly trained individuals to administer the test and analyze the results.

Twist Bioscience (Twist) is a leader in manufacturing synthetic DNA. Twist Biopharma, a division of Twist, has developed a proprietary platform that uses Twist’s high-throughput DNA synthesis to produce and discover highly specific antibodies. The team has successfully discovered antibodies against difficult-to-drug targets such as G-Protein Coupled Receptors. Building on this deep expertise in antibody discovery, Twist recently discovered over 100 high-affinity antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein using synthetic human antibody libraries built on its proprietary platform. These antibodies are highly specific to this virus and bind with high affinity to the target, as measured by immunoassays and other formats.

In this webinar, Twist Biopharma will show how they are using high affinity and selective SARS-CoV-2 antibodies for developing a diagnostic testing product for the current pandemic.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand how the synthetic biology revolution has relieved a bottleneck in the antibody space
• Understand the value of high throughput antibody production coupled with complementary screening platforms

Speaker:

Aaron K. Sato, Ph.D.
CSO, Biopharma
Twist Biopharma, a division of Twist Bioscience

Aaron is CSO of the Biopharma Vertical at Twist Bioscience. Prior to Twist, he served as Chief Scientific Officer of LakePharma, leading the California Antibody Center, which discovers novel antibody therapeutics for its clients. He also oversaw all discovery research functions both as Vice President of Protein Sciences at Surrozen, and previously, as Vice President of Research at Sutro Biopharma, Inc. He also held director level positions at both Oncomed and Dyax Corp.