Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease of the paramyxovirus family, which causes death in 75 percent of people infected. The transmission rate of this deadly disease is also high. To date, there are no approved treatments or vaccines against it.
The objective of the trial is to assess the safety and tolerability of the Nipah monoclonal antibody (mAb) MBP1F5-based Map biopharmaceutical.
The company has received $43.5 million in funding from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and intends to begin human trials in 2025, pending regulatory approval.
The trial will assess MBP1F5 in healthy adults at multiple clinical trial sites in India and Bangladesh.
The funding will also support preclinical studies to expand the use of mAbs from pre-exposure prophylaxis (before someone is exposed to the virus) to post-exposure prophylaxis, that is, for people immediately after infection with the virus.
“A monoclonal antibody capable of providing immediate protection for caregivers and others at risk of infection would be an important addition to our arsenal against Nipah virus,” said Richard Hatchett, CEO of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).
The new Nipah mAb can bind to Nipah virus F protein. According to company researchers, this mechanism can provide protection for at least six months against both known strains of Nipah virus (Bangladesh and Malaysia) and its closely related viral cousin, Hendra virus.
According to Mapp's Brent Yamamoto, in preclinical models, MBP1F5 has shown incredible potential to prevent and treat Nipah.
The objective of the trial is to assess the safety and tolerability of the Nipah monoclonal antibody (mAb) MBP1F5-based Map biopharmaceutical.
The company has received $43.5 million in funding from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and intends to begin human trials in 2025, pending regulatory approval.
The trial will assess MBP1F5 in healthy adults at multiple clinical trial sites in India and Bangladesh.
The funding will also support preclinical studies to expand the use of mAbs from pre-exposure prophylaxis (before someone is exposed to the virus) to post-exposure prophylaxis, that is, for people immediately after infection with the virus.
“A monoclonal antibody capable of providing immediate protection for caregivers and others at risk of infection would be an important addition to our arsenal against Nipah virus,” said Richard Hatchett, CEO of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).
The new Nipah mAb can bind to Nipah virus F protein. According to company researchers, this mechanism can provide protection for at least six months against both known strains of Nipah virus (Bangladesh and Malaysia) and its closely related viral cousin, Hendra virus.
According to Mapp's Brent Yamamoto, in preclinical models, MBP1F5 has shown incredible potential to prevent and treat Nipah.
