Just – Evotec Biologics Enters Project Agreement With BARDA To Optimize Biomanufacturing Of Antibodies Against Ebola And Related Viruses

• The program leverages Just – Evotec Biologics’ advanced biomanufacturing platform to deliver high-quality, scalable, cost-efficient production through significantly higher yields
• Manufacturing process development strengthens U.S. government response capabilities against hemorrhagic fever outbreaks caused by Ebola and Sudan virus

Evotec SE today announced its Seattle-based subsidiary and CDMO, Just – Evotec Biologics, Inc., has been selected by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Preparedness Consortium (BioMaP-Consortium) to advance manufacturing optimization for a monoclonal antibody cocktail targeting filovirus diseases, including Ebola virus (EBOV) and Sudan virus (SUDV).

The multi-year program award, valued at up to $10M 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 U.S. government’s response capabilities with therapeutics targeting filovirus diseases. The agreement has a base period and two option periods. While two FDA approved therapeutics are currently available for Ebola Virus Disease, no approved treatments exist for infections caused by SUDV.

Linda Zuckerman, PhD, 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 utilize its validated technology platforms to perform molecular optimization, 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.

This project has been funded in whole or in part with federal funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR); Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, under OT number #75A50123D00003.