Infectious disease

Non-human primates studies suggest mAbs against Lassa virus glycoprotein could help prevent or treat Lassa fever. In a cynomolgus macaque lethal Lassa virus challenge model, each of five human mAbs against the virus' glycoprotein prevented Lassa fever in 20 of 20 animals through days 28-31 post-challenge, whereas no treatment resulted in mean time to death of 12 days post-challenge in 7 of 7 animals. Also in the challenge model, a cocktail of three of the mAbs given on day 3, 6, or 8 post-infection prevented Lassa fever in 13 of 13 animals through days 28-31 post-challenge, whereas no treatment resulted in mean time to death of 12 days post-challenge in 6 of 6 animals. Next steps in collaboration with Zalgen Labs LLC include optimizing the formulation and dosing of the three-antibody cocktail (arevirumab-3).

Zalgen has arevirumab-3 in preclinical testing for Lassa fever...