A therapeutic antibody developed by researchers at Technische Universität Braunschweig, in collaboration with partners in France and the USA, has demonstrated complete protection against Marburg virus infection in animal models. The Marburg virus, a highly contagious pathogen similar to the Ebola virus, causes severe hemorrhagic fever with a high fatality rate, and currently lacks approved therapeutic agents.
The antibody targets the glycoprotein (envelope protein) of the Marburg virus, effectively neutralizing the virus and preventing it from infecting cells. In preclinical studies, the administration of the antibody resulted in 100% protection against wild-type Marburg virus in infected animals, marking a significant step towards a potential treatment for human infections.
Professor Dr. Michael Hust, head of the Department of Medical Biotechnology and co-developer of the anti-Marburg virus antibody, emphasized the importance of having a readily available treatment option. "We should produce several grams of our antibody under the quality conditions for therapeutics (GMP), store it centrally... in order to have this antibody available as an 'emergency drug'," he stated.
The development of this antibody leverages the biotechnology department's experience in creating therapeutic antibodies against infectious diseases. The team previously developed COR-101 for COVID-19 treatment, which entered clinical testing. They are now applying their expertise to develop drugs against other re-emerging viral diseases, such as the West Nile virus.
Dr. Federico Bertoglio, Senior Scientist in the West Nile Virus project, noted, "We also need vaccines and therapeutics for these re-emerging viral diseases. Therefore, building on the experiences of the last few years, we are working on potential drugs against various viruses, currently for example against the West Nile virus. We benefit from the experiences gained from the Marburg virus project."
