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. CHO Plus will collaborate with Avid Bioservices to scale up production for industrial requirements, supporting BARDA's biodefense initiatives.
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Why It's Important?
This partnership is crucial for advancing the U.S. biodefense strategy, particularly in addressing threats posed by filoviruses, which are highly contagious and lethal. The development of monoclonal antibodies is a significant step in enhancing therapeutic options and preparedness for potential outbreaks. The collaboration between CHO Plus and Avid Bioservices highlights the importance of innovative manufacturing technologies in the biopharmaceutical sector, potentially leading to more efficient and scalable production processes.
What's Next?
The project will proceed through a base period and two option periods, focusing on cell line development and production scaling. Stakeholders, including government agencies and healthcare providers, will be closely monitoring the progress and outcomes of this initiative. Successful development and production could lead to expanded capabilities in the U.S. for addressing biological threats, influencing public health policies and emergency response strategies.
