Regeneron has secured a significant contract extension with the U.S. government, bolstering the nation’s defense against the deadly Ebola virus. The pharmaceutical giant announced it has extended its 2020 agreement with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to maintain a steady, at-the-ready supply of Inmazeb through 2031. The deal, valued at approximately $270 million, underscores the federal government’s commitment to pandemic preparedness and the ongoing fight against viral threats.
Inmazeb is a three-drug antibody cocktail—comprising atoltivimab, maftivimab, and odesivimab-ebgn—that made history as the first treatment for Orthoebolavirus zairense (Zaire ebolavirus) to receive FDA approval. Since its initial deployment in 2019, the therapeutic has served as a critical tool in clinical settings. Data from clinical trials have shown that Inmazeb significantly improves patient outcomes, demonstrating a reduction in mortality by approximately 55% compared to active control treatments in patients with low viral loads.
Leonard Schleifer, MD, Board Co-Chair, President and CEO of Regeneron, emphasized that this partnership is a cornerstone of national security. “Maintaining a ready supply of Inmazeb is exactly the kind of preparedness this country needs,” Schleifer said. “This extended agreement reflects the strength of our long-standing collaboration with BARDA. We share a commitment to ensuring that at-the-ready medicines are available whenever an Ebola outbreak occurs.”
BARDA, which operates under the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, continues to prioritize such stockpiling initiatives to address potential public health emergencies before they escalate.
Beyond the stockpiling agreement, Regeneron is also advancing research into broader applications for the cocktail’s components. Specifically, maftivimab—the most potent virus-neutralizing component of Inmazeb—is currently being integrated into clinical trials targeting the Bundibugyo virus. This specific strain is currently causing an active outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Regeneron’s move to test maftivimab as a monotherapy follows promising results in in-vitro studies and non-human primate models, where the antibody demonstrated clear activity against the Bundibugyo orthoebolavirus. By leveraging the existing efficacy of the Inmazeb cocktail to address emerging regional threats, Regeneron is positioning itself at the forefront of global health security.
With this multi-year extension, the U.S. government ensures that it will remain well-supplied with one of the most effective tools currently available for treating Ebola. As international travel and climate shifts continue to impact the geographic spread of zoonotic diseases, the focus on rapid-response therapeutics like Inmazeb remains a vital pillar of the global biodefense strategy.
Disclaimer: This content is auto-generated for informational purposes only.
Source: Read Original News
