Lori Walsh: Scientists at SAb Biotherapeutics in South Dakota are working to harness nature and save lives in the fight against the novel coronavirus. They've been doing this work for decades with coronavirus and the platform they've been developing and they were uniquely positioned to respond rapidly to the new coronavirus outbreak. Joining us for an update on the development of therapeutics we welcome Eddie Sullivan. He's president and CEO and founder of SAb Biotherapeutics. Eddie, welcome back. Thanks for being here.
Eddie Sullivan: Hi Lori. It's good to be with you today.
Lori Walsh: The news on COVID 19 and this novel coronavirus changes every day so we're happy to have you back. Tell us a little bit about how the work that you're doing at SAB Therapeutics, where are you at in the progress, what's the latest update?
Eddie Sullivan: Well, I just want to first say I was listening to the governor's press conference and how impressed I am with the COVID 19 response in South Dakota overall and all of the work that our health officials are doing and our medical centers. And in addition to that of course SAB Biotherapeutics has this opportunity and this challenge ahead of us to be able to help in the response. And of course we are producing a therapeutic that is meant to treat those that are ill with the disease. This is different from a vaccine. A vaccine is where you actually vaccinate people with maybe a component from the virus and then they build their own antibodies.
What we are doing at SAB Biotherapeutics is we are actually using this very unique platform that we have with these animals that produce fully human antibodies. We actually essentially vaccinate them so that they produce the antibodies and of course then when people get sick, when patients are sick with this disease and their bodies have become overwhelmed we are providing them with a boost to what their bodies are already doing to fight off this disease and that's these very unique human polyclonal antibodies that are produced in SAB's platform technology.
Lori Walsh: Where are you at as far as what phase you are in? Because we hear the president talk about how long vaccines take to develop and we know we're on a much different timeframe with therapeutics.
Eddie Sullivan: Well that's exactly right and of course we are already vaccinating the animals and we have those components already in place. And so, the animals are already beginning to generate antibodies against the SARS2, SARS CoV2 virus that causes COVID 19. And we are working with partners at the Department of Defense and with BARDA and we had announcements this week on the funding that SAB has received. And we are moving forward to be able to produce quantities of these antibodies produced in these animals and move those into a clinical evaluation by early summer.
Lori Walsh: Tell me a little bit about how that funding which is substantial is put to use to increase the efforts here. We really only have about two minutes left so let's talk a little bit about, yeah go ahead.
Eddie Sullivan: Well what I was going to point out is that we were working already with the Department of Defense for SAB to build a rapid response system to be able to produce these antibodies to new and emerging diseases. So when this very challenging situation was presented we had already been working with them on being able to use our technology to produce a therapeutic against emerging diseases. So what happened was of course with all of the mobilization and all of the things that are happening for companies to be able to respond to this BARDA the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority also put funding towards this specific response to COVID 19 that has allowed SAB to move forward in a very precise and a very thoughtful way as far as being able to produce a therapeutic antibody that can be used in treating this very serious issue that we are faced with today.
Lori Walsh: What should we look for next as far as the news is concerned? People are waiting for the big announcement, the big breakthrough, is that the right thing to be waiting for at this point?
Eddie Sullivan: Well I think of course there are multiple tools in the toolbox and certainly Dr. Gotley the former commissioner of FDA has said that we need to be very thoughtful and very deliberate about our response to this and that's exactly what SAB is doing in our response. And moving forward to produce this therapeutic that is directed specifically to this disease. And we are unique in the world in the type of response that we are able to provide and so that's why we think it's so critical that what we are doing continue to move forward in a very deliberate and a very fast paced frankly way. And we're working with our industry partners with CSL Behring that we just recently made the announcement to.
But this has really given the opportunity for us here in South Dakota to have a part in that response and we're very excited about that. And I just want to say our team is working very hard at moving this forward. We understand there are people suffering and that's why all of us got into this type of industry in the first place is understanding that there are real needs out there in the world and we have the opportunity to address them with this very unique technology that SAB has.
Lori Walsh: Eddie, Governor Noem said in her press conference yesterday that there is a potential in South Dakota for some kind of statewide therapeutic response, that's all they're ready to talk about right now, and I'm wondering if you can give us insight into what that might look like.
Eddie Sullivan: Well, I am sure that the governor could be talking about several things including some of what we are trying to do with some of the therapeutics that already exist and multiple clinical trials that will be available and being able to draft this. But certainly I think in the coming weeks and months as we continue to develop our own therapeutic again a very unique approach that is specifically targeted to this disease that acts naturally within the human immune system. And we can get this into the clinic as quickly as possible and certainly that will be happening in patients in South Dakota and in other places around the world as well.
Lori Walsh: Eddie Sullivan with SAb Biotherapeutics in Sioux Falls thank you so much for your time we really appreciate it.
Eddie Sullivan: Thank you Lori, take care.