What's Happening?
CHO Plus, Inc., a privately held company based in South San Francisco, has entered into a project agreement with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority’s (BARDA) Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Preparedness Consortium (BioMaP-Consortium). The agreement, valued at up to $10.4 million, aims to develop high productivity Chinese hamster ovary cell lines for manufacturing filovirus monoclonal antibodies over a 30-month period. The project includes a base period and two option periods. CHO Plus will collaborate with Avid Bioservices to scale up production for industrial requirements. This initiative is part of BARDA's strategic biodefense efforts.
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Why It's Important?
The development of high productivity cell lines for filovirus monoclonal antibody production is crucial for enhancing the U.S. biodefense capabilities against highly contagious and lethal viruses. This collaboration between CHO Plus and BARDA's BioMaP Consortium represents a significant step in ensuring preparedness for future health security threats. The project supports the expansion of the industrial and manufacturing base for medical countermeasures, which is vital for addressing chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats, as well as pandemic influenza and emerging diseases.
What's Next?
CHO Plus and Avid Bioservices will focus on scaling up the production of monoclonal antibodies to meet industrial scale requirements. The project is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and aims to secure medical supplies necessary for future health security threats. The collaboration is expected to enhance the capabilities and flexibilities of the U.S. manufacturing base for medical countermeasures.
