Influenza A virus is a major public health threat, killing more than 30,000 people per year in the USA. Novel influenza virus strains caused by genetic drift and viral recombination emerge periodically to which humans have little or no immunity, resulting in devastating pandemics. Influenza A can exist in a variety of animals; however it is in birds that all subtypes can be found. During 1997, an H5N1 avian influenza was determined to be the cause of death in 6 of 18 infected patients in Hong Kong. The more recent virulent strain of H5N1 is seen in Southeast Asia and Africa, as well as in Europe. Because the influenza virus genome has drifted somewhat from what was first reported, the antibodies developed by ProSci were made using relatively conserved regions of the viral sequence as the antigen. This antibody is able to recognize peptides derived from viruses from Indonesian human patients infected in 2007.

ProSci was founded in 1998 to develop novel antibodies of interest to scientists conducting cellular research. Its biotech ‘tools’ are used by scientists worldwide to help them better understand the mechanisms of cell functions and infectious diseases. The company offers catalog antibodies and custom services to develop antibodies of special interest. ProSci is also engaged in research and development of HIV vaccines, and collaborates with several research institutions.