Biotechnology firms advance clinical trials for viral and transplant therapies

Evotec, through its subsidiary Just – Evotec Biologics, has announced the commencement of a Phase I clinical study for the antibody drug candidate JST-018. The program targets infections caused by orthopoxviruses and is part of the ‘Accelerated Antibodies Program’ initiated by the US Department of War to speed up the delivery of therapeutic antibodies against viral threats.

Separately, OSE Immunotherapeutics has reached a milestone as its partner, Veloxis Pharmaceuticals, administered the first dose of pegrizeprument (VEL-101) to a patient in the RENGEVITY-201 Phase II clinical study. This study focuses on preventing rejection following kidney transplants. Pegrizeprument, originally discovered by OSE Immunotherapeutics, is being developed globally by Veloxis, a subsidiary of Asahi Kasei Corporation, following a licensing agreement in 2021.