UKHSA_Scientific - Antibodies for Vaccine TaskForce

UKHSA Awarded a contract for the supply of antibodies to Stratech Scientific Limited via Lot 1 of LAB4042 SU Framework. A polyclonal antibody is a critical component of a validated microneutralisation assay we have developed and implemented at Porton. The assay is used to test samples from SARS-CoV-2 clinical trials, to assess the potential of variants of concern to evade vaccines and to support pre-clinical work on the efficacy of developmental vaccines and therapeutics. The assay was developed using an antibody that was sourced from Stratech and to maintain the validated status of the assay we need to continue to have a supply of the same reagent. Any change to the reagent used required a significant amount of bridging work and potential revalidation (weeks to months) to demonstrate equivalence between the Stratech reagent and the potential replacement which is unlikely to be cost effective. For the reasons above, we awarded the contract to Stratech via Direct award under the Framework.