Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41603290›Full record

ArticleProtein science : a publication of the Protein Society2026

Optimized ACE2-Fc fusion proteins with picomolar neutralization activity against highly evolved SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Ferran Abancó, Ferran Tarrés-Freixas, Rosalba Lepore, Elisa Molina-Molina, Eloi Franco, Rytis Boreika, Edwards Pradenas, Dàlia Raïch-Regué, Itziar Erkizia, Bonaventura Clotet and 7 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Protein science : a publication of the Protein Society, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

17 authors.

Ferran AbancóIrsiCaixa, Badalona, Spain.
Ferran Tarrés-FreixasIrsiCaixa, Badalona, Spain.
Rosalba LeporeLife Sciences Department, Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC), Barcelona, Spain.
Elisa Molina-MolinaIrsiCaixa, Badalona, Spain.
Eloi FrancoIrsiCaixa, Badalona, Spain.
Rytis BoreikaIrsiCaixa, Badalona, Spain.
Edwards PradenasIrsiCaixa, Badalona, Spain.
Dàlia Raïch-ReguéIrsiCaixa, Badalona, Spain.
Itziar ErkiziaIrsiCaixa, Badalona, Spain.
Bonaventura ClotetIrsiCaixa, Badalona, Spain.
Alfonso ValenciaLife Sciences Department, Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC), Barcelona, Spain.
Júlia Vergara-AlertUnitat Mixta d'Investigació IRTA-UAB en Sanitat Animal, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Spain.
Joaquim SegalésUnitat Mixta d'Investigació IRTA-UAB en Sanitat Animal, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Spain.
Jorge CarrilloIrsiCaixa, Badalona, Spain.
Nuria Izquierdo-UserosIrsiCaixa, Badalona, Spain.
Julià BlancoIrsiCaixa, Badalona, Spain.
Benjamin TrinitéIrsiCaixa, Badalona, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3809-042X

Funding

AmassenceCentres de Recerca de Catalunya 2021-SGR-00651Centres de Recerca de Catalunya 2021-SGR-00825Centres de Recerca de Catalunya 2021-SGR-01385Crowdfunding initiative #joemcoronoFundació Glòria SolerGrifolsHIPRAHORIZON EUROPE Health 101046118Instituto de Salud Carlos III DTS23009PharmaMarSpanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and 10.13039/ 501100011033Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation JDC2023-050389-ISpanish Ministry of Science and Innovation PID2023-147498OB-I00
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The rapid evolution of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has compromised the efficacy of many authorized monoclonal antibody products. This highlights the need for alternative strategies, especially for vulnerable populations such as immunocompromised individuals. Here, we optimized angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2)-Fc fusion proteins by combining three engineering steps: in silico mutagenesis of the S protein binding interface to increase affinity, insertion of a flexible linker to improve protein stability and S protein accessibility, and generation of a tetrameric molecule to maximize avidity. Neutralizing activity was tested against a large panel of pre-Omicron and Omicron pseudoviruses and authentic viruses, including JN.1 and KP.2 variants. Optimized ACE2-Fc molecules demonstrated potent neutralizing activity, in the picomolar range, against all SARS-CoV-2 variants. Our molecules displayed similar potency but better resilience when compared to the monoclonal antibody Sipavibart. These findings support ACE2-Fc proteins as robust candidates for next-generation interventions against infection by an evolving SARS-CoV-2.

Indexed as

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2Antibodies, NeutralizingAntibodies, ViralImmunoglobulin Fc FragmentsRecombinant Fusion ProteinsSARS-CoV-2Spike Glycoprotein, CoronavirusAnimalsAntibodies, MonoclonalHumansACE2 protein, humanAngiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2Antibodies, MonoclonalAntibodies, NeutralizingAntibodies, ViralImmunoglobulin Fc FragmentsRecombinant Fusion ProteinsSpike Glycoprotein, Coronavirusspike protein, SARS-CoV-2ACE2coronavirusCOVID‐19evolutionFc fusion proteinin silico mutagenesisneutralizing activitySARS‐CoV‐2S protein

Identifiers

PMID41603290
PMCPMC12848771

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.