CSL Behring evaluates monoclonal Ab for respiratory distress

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Australia based CSL Limited's part, CSL Behring has announced that the first patient has been enrolled in its Phase 2 study to assess the safety and efficacy of CSL312 (garadacimab, Factor XIIa antagonist monoclonal antibody) to treat patients suffering from severe respiratory distress, a leading cause of death in patients with COVID-19 related pneumonia.

Currently, CSL Behring is evaluating five approaches across its plasma fractionation and recombinant and antibody strategic scientific platforms to preventing and treating COVID-19. 

In addition to the study of CSL312, CSL Behring:

• Has entered into a partnering agreement with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), and The University of Queensland (UQ) to accelerate the development, manufacture and distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine candidate that has been pioneered by researchers at UQ.
• Is one of the founding members of the CoVIg-19 Plasma Alliance, an unprecedented industry partnership to develop CoVIg-19, a potential plasma-derived therapy for treating COVID-19. The CoVIg-19 Plasma Alliance will work toward developing the unbranded anti-SARS-CoV-2 polyclonal hyperimmune immunoglobulin medicine with the potential to treat individuals with serious complications from COVID-19, and to support national governments in their efforts to fight the current pandemic. The collaboration will leverage leading-edge expertise and work that the companies already have underway.
• Is developing an anti-SARS-CoV-2 plasma product for the Australian market with the potential to treat people with serious complications of COVID-19, particularly those whose illness is progressing towards the need for ventilation. The investigational product, to be known as COVID-19 Immunoglobulin, is under development at the company's advanced manufacturing facility located in Broadmeadows, Victoria.
• Has also formed a partnership with SAB Biotherapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, to advance and deliver a novel immunotherapy targeting COVID-19. The potential therapy would be produced without the need for blood plasma donations from recovered COVID-19 patients. Clinical trials could begin this summer in North America.