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Human Antibodies Against Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus

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Summary
The National Cancer Institute is seeking statements of capability or interest from parties interested in collaborative research to co-develop antibody-based therapeutic against MERS-CoV, including animal studies, cGMP manufacturing, and clinical trials.
NIH Reference Number
E-002-2014
Product Type
Keywords
  • middle east respiratory syndrome
  • MERS
  • coronavirus
  • antibody
Collaboration Opportunity
This invention is available for licensing and co-development.
Contact
Description of Technology

No effective therapeutics or vaccines against Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) are available. The human-to-human aspect of transmission and the high mortality rate associated with MERS-CoV infection have raised concerns over the potential for a future MERS-CoV pandemic and emphasized the need for development of effective therapeutics and vaccines.

The MERS-CoV-S protein is believed to be required for binding and virus entry during MERS-CoV infection. The antibodies of this technology represent candidate antibody-based therapeutics for treatment of MERS-CoV infection.  Researchers at the NCI have developed human antibodies that target MERS-CoV.  Certain of these antibodies bind with epitopes of the MERS-CoV receptor binding domain (RBD) of MERS-CoV spike (S) protein with high affinity and are capable of neutralizing the virus as demonstrated in a pseudovirus assay.

Potential Commercial Applications
  • Antibody-based therapeutics for treatment of MERS-CoV infection
Competitive Advantages
  • No vaccine or other biologic therapy is available, and this antibody provides high binding (sub-nanomolar) affinity, and relative safety with long half-lives.
Inventor(s)

Dimiter Dimitrov, Tianlei Ying (NCI), Tina Ju (NCI), Kwok Yuen

Development Stage
Publications

Zaki AM, et al. [PMID 23075143]

Zhu Z, et al. [PMID 18271743]

Zhu Z, et al. [PMID 17620608]

Patent Status
  • U.S. Patent Filed: U.S. Patent Application Number 61/892,750, Filed 18 Oct 2013
Therapeutic Area
Updated
Wednesday, May 30, 2018