Under the 18-month contract, Xoma will produce three botulinum neurotoxin monoclonal antibodies designed to protect US citizens against the harmful effects of biological agents used in bioterrorism.
Xoma will develop the monoclonal antibody therapeutics using proprietary antibody expression systems. The antibodies will be produced at Xoma’s manufacturing facility and the project will be 100% funded with Federal funds from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).
SRI International, an independent, nonprofit research institute based in California, will be a subcontractor under this contract and will develop potency assays to support antibody characterization.
“Numerous events in the US over the past few years serve as a stark reminder that the use of biological agents remains a real threat,” said John Castello, president, chairman and CEO of Xoma. “As an industry leader in developing monoclonal antibodies, Xoma is committed to working with the US government to develop new therapies to counter these biological threats.”