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SINO BIOLOGICAL ADVERTORIAL focus on developing r
eagent and the largest collection of virus proteins in the word. “One of the reasons we responded so quickly at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic was that many of the antibodies developed for SARS were applicable for COVID-19 as well – that gave us a head start in providing vital reagents for vaccine development,” says Chen. S I NO BIOLOGIC A L If another pandemic of a known virus breaks out, and the recombinant antigens are available, they can be used to develop antibodies. “When you have these proteins handy, scientists can use them for multiple applications,” says Chen. “These proteins are vital and are often used as antigens, components of vaccines, and source material to create therapeutics. It’s good to have a little bit of everything in case a pandemic hits.” Sino’s reagents can provide indications about which format of a vaccine might work. “We supply biotechnology companies with antibodies to see if they interact with various formats of vaccines. We would like to see the reagents we supplied play a role in the early stage of vaccine development,” says Chen. “For that, we would feel quite honored.” ONE OF THE LARGEST sources of supplies for these efforts is Sino Biological, which manufactures and sells the antibodies and recombinant antigens necessary for researchers to create and evaluate vaccines and drugs. Sino Biological boasts a stockpile of materials for almost all areas of life sciences’ research. The company’s inventory includes 52,000 products, among them over 6,500 recombinant proteins, including 4,500 proteins expressed by cultured human cells so that the proteins are closest to natural structure and property. Also available is over 14,000 antibodies, including 4,900 varieties of monoclonal antibodies. ProVirTM , the world’s largest viral antigen bank, is another Sino asset, and houses more than 1,300 recombinant antigens from more than 350 strains. Sino’s core technology is recombinant protein expression, and what sets the company apart is that it has an exclusive Sino Biological also is the first company in the world to create and sell the SARSCoV-2 viral protein reagents. Much of Sino’s work has involved respiratory diseases and the company has a large collection of recombinant antigens related to them, as well as extensive information about how to make the antigens. “If something comes up, we have the information for troubleshooting,” says Dr. Yuning Chen, Sino’s research and development manager, who is responsible for the strategic design of recombinant protein products’ development and custom project oversight. Keeping the product lines full is Sino’s team of expert scientists and technicians who are dedicated to creating and developing these products and have been engaging in more client/scientist interactions. Sino Biological has two manufacturing facilities in China, as well as subsidiaries in the United States, Europe, and Japan. Sino’s products have been used by different areas of research including life science research institutes, pharmaceutical companies, as well as IVD companies. The company has several product pipelines going. “We’re considering a deep dive to create more potent cytokines, as well as possibly expanding its product line to include industrial enzymes,” says Chen. Calling Sino a science-driven company, Chen says the hope is that the firm can make a contribution to help push research forward for the understanding of disease mechanisms and for the benefit of human health. “We need to have reagents available, or at least know how to make them for future,” he asserts. “If we have these products ready, if needed, they can be deployed in a short period of time.” NORDIC LIFE SCIENCE 19