Just - Evotec Biologics Expands Development And Manufacturing Agreement With ABL For Broadly Neutralising Antibodies Against HIV

• Just – Evotec Biologics to provide development and phase i clinical manufacturing of broadly neutralising antibody against HIV
• Agreement builds on previous NIAID-funded collaboration to develop a broadly neutralising antibody against HIV

Evotec SE today announced that its Seattle-based subsidiary Just – Evotec Biologics, Inc. has expanded its relationship with Advanced BioScience Laboratories, Inc. (“ABL”), a global contract development and manufacturing organisation (“CDMO”) serving the US Government and biopharmaceutical industry. The expansion is under a new contract funded entirely by Federal funds under an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (“IDIQ”) contract awarded to ABL from National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (“NIAID”), National Institutes of Health (“NIH”), Department of Health and Human Services, (“DHHS”) under Contract No. HHSN272201700010I/ 75N93023F00001.

The new agreement builds on previous collaborations between Just – Evotec Biologics and ABL to design highly efficient manufacturing processes for broadly neutralising antibodies (“bNAbs”) against HIV. Under the expanded relationship, Just – Evotec Biologics will develop a third bNAb and perform large-scale cGMP manufacturing campaigns for both this bNAb and a previously developed bNAb against HIV for a Phase I clinical study. Just – Evotec Biologics will also provide release and stability testing services.

Dr Matthias Evers, Chief Business Officer of Evotec, commented: “We are excited to expand our long-standing partnership with ABL to include the development of a third bNAb. By leveraging Just – Evotec Biologics’ next-generation biomanufacturing platform we provide an integrated development and manufacturing solution for our partner to support the delivery of new therapeutic options targeting HIV together.”

Lauren Hudacik, President and Chief Executive Officer at ABL, added: “ABL has a long history of supporting the U.S. government’s mission to develop effective prevention and therapeutic products against HIV. This expansion of partnership with Just – Evotec Biologics strengthens that tradition.”

Dr Linda Zuckerman, Executive Vice President Global Head Biotherapeutics at Just – Evotec Biologics stated: “Building from the long-standing collaboration in the development of broadly-neutralising antibodies against HIV, we are excited to leverage Just – Evotec Biologics’ intensified continuous bioprocessing infrastructure to drive ABL’s towards clinical validation.”

According to the WHO, there are over 38 million individuals living with HIV worldwide. The development of safe and efficacious HIV-1 treatments and prevention strategies remains one of the highest priorities of the NIAID. This programme aims to supply clinical material to continue vital ongoing clinical trials worldwide.

No financial details of the agreement between Just – Evotec Biologics and ABL were disclosed.