Verily Dives Deeper into COVID-19 with Antibody Testing Research

Verily is hoping to get a deeper understanding of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) starting with an initial focus of antibody testing. The Alphabet company and former life sciences arm of Google launched the Baseline COVID-19 Research Project.

The first tranche of the project will be a serology (or antibody) study offered to individuals in the Bay area that have received COVID-19 nasal swab testing through the Baseline COVID-19 testing program.

In an email to MD+DI, a spokesperson for the company wrote, “Verily recently launched the Baseline COVID-19 Research Project to advance the scientific understanding of COVID-19 to support the development of public health interventions and new treatments and vaccines. This initiative is open to everyone who is interested in directly contributing to science, regardless of whether they have personally experienced COVID-19.”

Verily said the COVID-19 Research Project is open to everyone who wants to contribute directly to crucial research — regardless of whether they have personally experienced the illness. Beyond clinical study opportunities, research activities may also include scientific surveys on mental health, lifestyle, and more.

Before COVID-19 

COVID-19 has caused many firms to switch gears and Verily is no different. Here is a look at what Verily was working on before the virus struck.

Late last year, it was announced Verily would sell its remaining interest in the Verb Surgical Robotics joint venture to its partner, Johnson & Johnson. The deal was part of an ongoing plan that would have New Brunswick, NJ-based J&J’s strengthening its surgical robotic offerings. The two first announced Verb’s formation back in December of 2015.

Verily would begin 2020 by winning FDA clearance for a Study Watch to measure irregular heartbeats. The company collaborated with heart monitoring-specialist iRhythm Technologies to develop the wearable.

A few weeks after FDA greenlit the Study Watch, Verily would continue its tradition of taking part in collaborations and partnerships with medtech and pharmaceutical companies.

Earlens tapped the company to help it develop next-generation capabilities for a nonsurgical hearing solution.

The company then formed a joint venture with Osaka, Japan-based Santen Pharmaceuticals that would focus on applying microelectronics and digital technologies to ophthalmology products.