Just – Evotec Biologics enters $10m agreement with BARDA

Evotec’s subsidiary and CDMO, Just – Evotec Biologics, has been selected by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Preparedness Consortium (BioMaP-Consortium) to advance manufacturing optimisation for a monoclonal antibody cocktail. 

The therapy will target filovirus diseases, including Ebola virus (EBOV) and Sudan virus (SUDV). 

The multi-year programme award, valued at up to $10 million if all options are activated, will support BARDA’s efforts to strengthen national preparedness by supporting the development of cost‑effective medical countermeasures that can augment the US government’s response capabilities with therapeutics targeting filovirus diseases. 

While two FDA approved therapeutics are currently available for Ebola Virus Disease, no approved treatments exist for infections caused by SUDV. 

Linda Zuckerman, EVP Global Head of Biotherapeutics at Just – Evotec Biologics commented: “In outbreak scenarios, speed, scalability and manufacturing robustness are critical. Our technology-driven approach is designed to deliver resilient, industry-leading high-yield production processes that can support rapid deployment in public health emergencies.” 

Under the agreement, Just – Evotec Biologics will utilise its technology platforms to perform molecular optimisation, cell line development, and manufacturing process development for two antibodies. These antibodies, originally identified in survivors of the 2014 Ebola outbreak, represent aspects of an immune response that may have protected infected individuals.  

Just – Evotec Biologics will apply its platform technologies to convert these discoveries into high-yield, scalable and cost-efficient manufacturing processes capable of supporting future therapeutic development and emergency deployment. 

BARDA is responsible for the advanced research, development, and procurement of medical countermeasures, for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threats, as well as pandemic influenza and emerging infectious diseases. 

The BioMaP-Consortium supports BARDA and is comprised of industry partners across the drug and vaccine manufacturing supply chain.

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