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KBI and Mapp Biopharma subcontract to accelerate Sudan Ebola Virus drug manufacture

JSR Life Sciences company KBI Biopharma, Inc. (KBI) has announced partnership with Mapp Biopharmaceutical, Inc. (Mapp) to continue development and manufacture of MBP134 for treatment of variations of the ebolavirus.

KBI and Mapp Biopharma subcontract to accelerate Sudan Ebola Virus drug manufacture

MBP134 is a two-antibody therapeutic candidate drug which has demonstrated efficiency in fighting the ebolavirus in non-clinical studies.

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While other expedited drugs have been successful in minor Ebolavirus genus, MBP134 has proved efficiency to treat many variations of the virus in a single dose.

Last year in September, public health authorities in Uganda declared an outbreak of Ebola disease caused by the Sudan Ebola virus (SUDV). The World Health Organisation confirmed 142 cases and 55 deaths by the end of the year.

There's no cure for Sudan ebolavirus disease, which has a fatality rate of 50%, and there is no widely available cure for Ebola.

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However, MBP134 is a promising approach that is in development.

The drug was developed on emergency basis by Mapp under the direction of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

It was expedited to Uganda to address the Ebolavirus outbreak.

Although the SUDV does not have (Food and Drug Administration) FDA-approved medical countermeasures, KBI is stepping up to support Mapp in the development of its treatment.

"SUDV is an urgent health crisis, and KBI is pleased to subcontract with Mapp, expediting the availability of MBP134 to make an impact.

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The technical expertise of our scientists, technicians, analysts, and engineers allows for the development of sophisticated workflows that save precious time and resources.

We are proud to be able to quickly mobilize our cross-continental teams to address this public health crisis," said Dr. Abdelaziz Toumi, Chief Business Officer of KBI Biopharma and Selexis SA, on Monday January 23, 2023.

Toumi explained that they are building bulwarks against future outbreaks.

"Future outbreaks of Ebola virus disease are inevitable, but providing access to a therapeutic candidate that could treat multiple virus species will dramatically impact treatment potency. KBI is proud to support Mapp’s important development of MBP134," he said.

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"* This subcontract is 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, Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, under contract number 75A50122C00061." says businesswire.

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