# Research Project 2: Therapeutic Human Monoclonal Antibody Treatments for Filoviruses

> **NIH NIH U19** · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MED BR GALVESTON · 2020 · $2,775,679

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT – Research Project 2 
Ebolaviruses cause the most severe hemorrhagic fevers in humans, with mortality rates up to 90%. They also 
are considered potential weapons for bioterrorism and biological warfare. We have isolated thousands of 
naturally-occurring human antibodies (Abs) that neutralize ebolaviruses and marburgviruses and protect against 
disease in animal models. One of the gaps in the field of filovirus antibody therapeutics is the lack of monoclonal 
antibodies that act against all of the major pathogenic species of ebolavirus (Zaire ebolavirus [EBOV], 
Bundibugyo ebolavirus [BDBV] and Sudan ebolavirus [SUDV]. The key requirements for successful treatment of 
filovirus infections with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) may include (A) use of broad and potent mAbs, and (B) 
administration of an antibody or cocktail of mAbs binding to highly conserved viral epitopes. We propose here to 
perform advanced development of pan-ebolavirus and pan-marburgvirus human monoclonal antibody 
therapeutics. The work will be conducted with a panel of highly promising antibodies that are in hand, with the 
goal of identifying and selecting lead compounds and advancing preclinical development in preparation for a 
subsequent IND filing and clinical testing. The work is organized around several aims that seek to compare the 
protection of mAbs against various filoviruses in vitro and in vivo, and to select lead candidate members. In 
addition, mAbs will be characterized by their mechanism of action, isotype, and Fc glycosylation content. Cell 
lines for large-scale production of the lead candidates will be done in an effort to develop large-scale production 
and purification methods for the lead candidate antibodies. We have a highly interactive consortium of 
investigators with complementary expertise in human antibody discovery and engineering (Vanderbilt), filovirus 
biology and immunity (UTMB) and antibody production (Mapp Biopharmaceutical). The work promises to yield a 
best-in-class antibody preparation for broad and potent activity against ebolaviruses that can be used to treat or 
prevent human ebolavirus infections.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9889896
- **Project number:** 5U19AI142785-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MED BR GALVESTON
- **Principal Investigator:** James E Crowe
- **Activity code:** U19 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $2,775,679
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** — → —

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9889896

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9889896, Research Project 2: Therapeutic Human Monoclonal Antibody Treatments for Filoviruses (5U19AI142785-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9889896. Licensed CC0.

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