Download Humabs BioMed and the Institute for Research in Biomedicine

Humabs BioMed and the Institute for Research in Biomedicine announce the
successful isolation and characterization of a protective, human-derived
antibody against Ebola
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International collaboration publishes results in two Science papers
Clinical development to start with support by DARPA
Bellinzona (Switzerland), February 25, 2016 -- Humabs BioMed SA, a Swiss antibody
therapeutics company, and the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB) affiliated to the
Università della Svizzera Italiana today announced the identification, isolation and
characterization of two Ebola virus neutralizing monoclonal antibodies from the blood of a
survivor of an Ebola infection. The results were achieved through an international collaboration
with leading research institutes. As published in this week’s Science, one of the fully human
antibodies is completely protective against lethal Ebola infection - even when given as single
treatment and as late as five days after infection. A second publication, also in this week’s
Science, identifies novel sites of vulnerability on the Ebola virus glycoprotein and reveals the
molecular bases of virus neutralization by the human antibodies, providing new clues for vaccine
design.
The Ebola virus causes hemorrhagic fever with a mortality rate of up to 90%. There is currently
no approved Ebola therapy or vaccination. However, it is known that Ebola infection survivors
carry life-long immunity preventing further infections. In a joint effort with researchers from the
National Institute for Biomedical Research (INBR, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo),
Humabs BioMed and IRB were able to isolate two human antibodies against Ebola from the
blood of two survivors of a 1995 Ebola outbreak 11 years after infection. Two antibodies codenamed mAb100 and mAb114 demonstrated high virus-neutralizing capacity even when mAb114
was given as a monotherapy five days after infection.
Subsequently, Humabs BioMed and IRB in collaboration with a team of researchers from INBR,
NIAID, the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth (Hanover, USA), the Frederick National
Laboratory for Cancer Research (Frederick, USA), the School of Medicine Tsinghua University
(Beijing, China), the Harvard Medical School (Boston, USA), and Boston Children’s Hospital
(Boston, USA) characterized the targets addressed by the two antibodies. Both interfere with a
glycoprotein that is essential for the binding of the virus to its host cells. This protein contains a
certain loop that is being removed before the virus can enter cells. While mAb100 prevents the
removal of the loop, mAb114, which is effective as a monotherapy, remains attached to the
protein even after the loop is cut out. This is an entirely novel site of Ebola virus vulnerability that
has never been reported to date and may open up new possibilities for the development of
further preventive and therapeutic measures.
The lead mAb114 antibody is now being manufactured and developed for clinical testing with the
support of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA, Arlington, USA).
“These are major accomplishments in the search for a cure for Ebola,” said co-author Davide
Corti, CSO of Humabs. “These data clearly demonstrate the efficiency of the Cellclone
technology that delivered already several antibodies against infectious agents currently in clinical
development. We believe in the therapeutic potential of mAb114 and we are very much looking
forward to its clinical development.”
“Once again we have proven that Humabs is able to discover and develop anti-infective
antibodies with high speed and remarkable results,” said Filippo Riva, CEO of Humabs. “This
includes antibodies directed against emerging novel pathogens, such as MERS coronavirus and
Zika virus. We will remain committed to developing cures against life-threatening diseases.”
“Our laboratory is committed to the identification of potent and broadly neutralizing antibodies.
This is important not only to deliver new therapeutics, but also to find the Achille’s heel of a
pathogen in order to design more effective and safe vaccines,” said co-author Antonio
Lanzavecchia, Director of the IRB, who has developed the Cellclone technology.
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About Humabs BioMed SA
Humabs BioMed is a leading Swiss antibody therapeutics company that discovers and develops
superior antibodies directly derived from individuals who have successfully overcome major
diseases. These "winner antibodies" have already passed natural selection by the immune
system in response to disease and can easily be developed for standardized therapeutic use.
The company currently focuses on infectious diseases, but also has selected antibodies against
inflammatory diseases and cancer in the pipeline.
Humabs BioMed has established a unique technology platform and know-how allowing the
selection of monoclonal antibodies from immortalized human memory B cells, plasma cells or
naïve B cells with unmatched, stable secretion rates. To date, the company has closed four
major licensing deals with top pharmaceutical companies generating significant revenues. Two
of these programs, partnered with MedImmune and Novartis, respectively, are currently in
clinical development.
About IRB
The Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB) was founded in 2000 in Bellinzona and was
affiliated to the Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) in 2010. Financed by private and public
institutions, and by competitive grants, the IRB currently hosts 10 research groups and 105
researchers that investigate the mechanisms of host defence against infectious agents, cancer
and degenerative diseases. With more than 460 publications in leading scientific journals, the
IRB has gained an international reputation as a centre of excellence in human immunology.
www.irb.usi.ch
Humabs BioMed Inquiries
Humabs BioMed SA
Dr. Davide Corti, CSO
Tel.: +41 91 825 63 80
E-mail: [email protected]
Institute for Research in Biomedicine Inquiries
Prof. Antonio Lanzavecchia, Director IRB
Tel.: +41 76 5781508
E-mail: [email protected]
Media Inquiries
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Ines-Regina Buth / Dr. Ludger Weß, Managing Partners
Tel.: +49 30 23632768 or
+49 40 88165964
E-mail: [email protected]