FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH TO COUNTER WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION (C-WMD)

Abstract

There are no FDA approved vaccines or therapeutics available for the ebolaviruses. Although several vaccines and therapeutics continue to advance, these products are limited in specificity to a single species, EBOV. Sporadic outbreaks of other pathogenic ebolavirus species such as Sudan ebolavirus (SUDV) and Bundibugyo ebolavirus (BDBV), as well as the continued emergence of new ebolaviruses such as Bombali ebolavirus, highlight the need to develop broadly active therapeutic and prophylactic treatment options. To address this significant gap in medical and defense preparedness, Mapp proposes developing and optimizing a pan-ebolavirus immunoprophylactic. Providing instant immunity will ideally help protect the warfighter and first responders frominfection, resulting in better functioning treatment units; having a reliable prophylactic may also encourage additional local healthcare workers to volunteer for what has historically been a highrisk environment. A mAb-based prophylactic could eliminate that window, provide instant immunity for >30 days to the warfighter, immediately break the chain of transmission in the local population, and arrest an emerging epidemic or outbreak.

Document Details

Document Type
DoD Grant Award
Publication Date
Aug 04, 2021
Source ID
HDTRA12010010

Entities

People

  • Zarchary Bornholdt

Organizations

  • Defense Threat Reduction Agency
  • Mapp Biopharmaceutical

Tags

Readers

  • Critical Infrastructure Protection in CBRN and WMD Threats.
  • Educational Psychology
  • Infectious Disease/Epidemiology

Technology Areas

  • Biotechnology