Evotec Advances Antibodies Against Orthopoxvirus to Clinical Trials

Evotec SE announced the initiation of a Phase 1 clinical trial for JST-018, a cocktail of investigational monoclonal antibodies, as part of the U.S. Department of War's Accelerated Antibodies Program. These antibodies target orthopoxviruses, a family that includes the virus responsible for smallpox. The development of JST-018 involved a comprehensive process from antibody sequence selection to manufacturing at Just – Evotec Biologics' J.POD® facility in Redmond, Washington.

This milestone is part of a broader contract with the U.S. Department of War, aimed at enhancing biodefense mechanisms. The company’s continuous manufacturing platform expedited the process, demonstrating an efficient model for biodefense preparedness. This program is Just – Evotec Biologics' second under the U.S. Department of War's contract, following a previous agreement for developing antibodies against plague.