Mary-Louise Hoffman
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals has landed a potential 23-month, $38 million contract from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to further develop the company’s experimental drug against Ebola virus.
HHS’ Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority could provide $11.3 million in additional funds for Regeneron to produce alternative anti-Ebola monoclonal antibody drugs for clinical research use, the department said Monday.
The company will also use the money to apply for regulatory approval for the medicine.
“Regeneron’s mission is to use science and technology to transform outcomes for people living with serious diseases,” said Neil Stahl, executive vice president of research and development at Regeneron.
Regeneron used the VelociGene and VelocImmune medical technologies to identify, validate and develop a “cocktail” therapy that blends three fully human monoclonal antibodies and has tested the potential Ebola drug on animal models.
The company developed the antibodies through a research and development agreement with pharmaceutical company Sanofi.
