ModeX wins $168m BARDA contract to develop viral antibody therapies

ModeX will receive a $59m upfront payment for the research and development of multi-specific antibodies against viral infections as part of Project NextGen.

ModeX will receive an upfront payment of $59m to fund the Phase I trial, including development, manufacturing, and execution. Image Credit: Corona Borealis Studio / Shutterstock.

The US Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) has awarded a $168m Project NextGen contract to ModeX Therapeutics to develop anti-viral therapies.

As per the contract, ModeX will develop multispecific antibodies, which can incorporate four to six independent antibody binding sites into a single molecule, using its MSTAR technology platform.

A part of the US Government’s Strategic Preparedness and Response division, BARDA has launched Project NextGen to develop vaccines and therapies for emerging infections, including Covid-19, influenza, and others. To achieve this, BARDA plans to leverage its public-private partnerships and plans to invest more than $5bn in the Project NextGen programme.

ModeX will receive an upfront payment of $59m to fund the Phase I trial, including development, manufacturing, and execution, for the multispecific antibody with a broad ability to neutralise the known variants of the SARS-CoV-2 strain.

The US-based company is also eligible for milestone-based payments of up to $109m for developing multispecific antibody therapies for other viral pathogens such as influenza. ModeX will also aim to develop gene-based delivery methods using mRNA or DNA vectors for multispecific antibodies.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData

Tick here to opt out of curated industry news, reports, and event updates from Pharmaceutical Technology.

Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

In March, ModeX signed an exclusive global licence and collaboration deal with Merck & Co (MSD) to develop a vaccine candidate for Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), a leading cause of infectious mononucleosis.