Dr. Davide Corti is Senior Vice President of Antibody Research at Vir Biotechnology since 2017 and a world-renowned expert in human monoclonal antibody discovery and development. He earned his bachelor's degree in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology from the University of Milan and Ph.D. in Immunology from the University of Bern, Switzerland, followed by postdoctoral training at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine under Antonio Lanzavecchia.

Dr. Corti co-founded Humabs BioMed SA in 2009 with Antonio Lanzavecchia and Bill Rutter, serving as VP and later Chief Scientific Officer until its acquisition by Vir Biotechnology in 2017. During his tenure, he pioneered innovative methods for isolating human monoclonal antibodies from memory B cells and plasma cells, establishing breakthrough platforms for therapeutic development against infectious diseases.

Through strategic collaborations with MedImmune, GSK, and other industry partners, his team has advanced multiple antibody programs targeting diverse pathogens including RSV, rabies virus, and drug-resistant bacteria. His research has directly resulted in two FDA-approved treatments: Ebanga (ansuvimab) for Ebola virus disease and Xevudy (sotrovimab) for COVID-19. Additional clinical candidates from his work include tobevibart for hepatitis B and D viruses—currently in a pivotal Phase 3 registrational study for chronic hepatitis D—and VIR-2482 for influenza A.

Currently leading a multidisciplinary team of approximately 50 scientists across Bellinzona and San Francisco, Dr. Corti continues to expand the frontiers of antibody therapeutics, including immune-oncology applications with particular focus on next-generation masked T cell engagers and novel therapeutic modalities.

His scientific impact is reflected in 167 peer-reviewed publications with an h-index of 94 and nearly 39,000 citations, earning recognition as a Highly Cited Researcher by Clarivate (2021-2024) and ranking in the top 1% of citations in his field. Since 2024, he is a member of the Henry Kunkel Society. He holds over 100 patents and remains at the forefront of translating cutting-edge antibody research into life-saving medicines that address critical global health challenges.

Dr. Davide Corti