# Preclinical Development of Human Monoclonal Antibodies for Postexposure Treatment of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MED BR GALVESTON · 2021 · $1,104,705

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is a tick-borne emerging pathogen that causes severe and
often fatal hemorrhagic fever in humans across a broad geographic range that includes more than 30
countries. The NIAID lists CCHFV as a Category A priority pathogen, a biological agent that poses the highest
risk to national security and public health. CCHF is of particular importance to public health as there are no
licensed vaccines or treatments available for use in humans, and because of the concern that the virus could
be used as an agent of biological terrorism. The goal of this project is to develop a monoclonal antibody-based
postexposure treatment as a potential medical countermeasure that can provide protection across all six
genetically distinct clades of CCHFV. Monoclonal antibodies will be compared in vitro to select candidates that
protect against CCHFVs representing all major M segment clades. The most promising antibodies will then be
tested using the STAT-1 knockout mouse model for their ability to protect against disease when the antibodies
are given following challenge with CCHFV. Dosing and treatment regimens will then be optimized. The lead
candidate antibody will be evaluated for its ability to protect nonhuman primates from CCHFV disease when
administered after exposure. This proposal will draw together the expertise needed to develop lead anti-
CCHFV mouse monoclonal antibodies chimerized with human constant regions, as well as to develop and
optimize fully human anti-CCHF monoclonal antibodies.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10179308
- **Project number:** 5R01AI132246-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MED BR GALVESTON
- **Principal Investigator:** Thomas William Geisbert
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $1,104,705
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-06-01 → 2023-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10179308

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10179308, Preclinical Development of Human Monoclonal Antibodies for Postexposure Treatment of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (5R01AI132246-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10179308. Licensed CC0.

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