Officials at Evotec reported that the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) awarded its Seattle-based subsidiary, Just – Evotec Biologics, an agreement worth $28.6 million for the production of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for use in the development of a treatment and/or prophylaxis for COVID-19.
The DOD’s Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense is carrying out this effort in coordination with the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs and the Defense Health Agency
Under the agreement, the DOD will have access to manufacturing capacity for anti-SARS-CoV-2 mAbs and priority access to future biomanufacturing capacity over a period of seven years in the soon-to-be-completed J.POD(R) facility in Redmond, WA. The agreement represents the continuation of DOD’s collaboration with Just – Evotec Biologics which began last July and involved the selection of anti-SARS-CoV2 mAbs, resulting in the process development and manufacture of mAbs against SARS-CoV-2.
“Our technologies and expertise in molecule optimization, process and product development, and manufacturing are well suited to rapidly support the DOD’s needs for COVID-19 and other infectious disease threats,” said James Thomas, PhD, executive vice president and global head biotherapeutics at Just – Evotec Biologics.
