{"id":85216,"date":"2026-10-08T09:07:09","date_gmt":"2026-10-08T07:07:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/magazin.tu-braunschweig.de\/?post_type=kb_presseinformation&p=85216"},"modified":"2026-10-08T09:10:25","modified_gmt":"2026-10-08T07:10:25","slug":"therapeutic-antibodies-against-poxviruses","status":"publish","type":"kb_presseinformation","link":"https:\/\/magazin.tu-braunschweig.de\/en\/pi-post\/therapeutic-antibodies-against-poxviruses\/","title":{"rendered":"Therapeutic antibodies against poxviruses"},"content":{"rendered":"

In addition to the eradicated \u201chuman\u201d smallpox (Orthopoxvirus variolae), which can only infect humans, there are other poxviruses. These include, for example, Mpox (\u201cmonkeypox,\u201d Orthopoxvirus monkeypox), which can be transmitted from person to person, but also from animals to humans. The traditional smallpox vaccine also protects against Mpox. However, with the eradication of smallpox, routine smallpox vaccination was discontinued\u2014with the result that younger people in particular are not vaccinated today. This is where the THANATOS project<\/a> comes in, which is funded by the EU with 13.5 million euros.<\/p>\n

The THANATOS project is developing an antibody-based therapeutic, designed to neutralize the smallpox and Mpox (monkeypox) viruses. It will first be tested in preclinical studies, followed by clinical trials in humans. The starting point is an antibody isolated from macaques by the Institut de Recherche Biom\u00e9dicale des Arm\u00e9es (IRBA) in France in cooperation with the Department of Medical Biotechnology at TU Braunschweig.<\/p>\n

The role of TU Braunschweig in the current project is to humanize and perform biochemical analysis of this antibody, as well as to produce the antibodies for in vitro<\/em> and in vivo<\/em> experiments. In Braunschweig, Dr. Maren Schubert from the Helmholtz Center for Infection Research (HZI) is also involved in the project and will prepare the surface proteins of smallpox viruses as well as non-infectious virus-like particles (VLPs) for antibody analysis and quality control of the therapeutic antibody. Following the humanization and biochemical analysis of the antibody, its efficacy against cowpox and Mpox will be validated in experiments, followed by the preclinical development.<\/p>\n

This includes, among other things, the antibody\u2019s behavior in the body, potential toxic effects, possible cross-reactions, the development of a cell line for production, and GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) production for the Phase 1 clinical trial. The clinical Phase 1, in which the safety of the therapeutic agent in humans is evaluated, is the endpoint of this project. At the same time, preparations are underway for a potential Phase 2 clinical trial (efficacy) to evaluate the drug\u2019s effectiveness in treating Mpox.<\/p>\n

\u201cDeveloping a therapeutic agent for use in humans is a challenging and highly responsible task. We are excited to take on this project and thank the EU for funding not only research projects but also development projects,\u201d says Dianne Gnann, a researcher in the Department of Medical Biotechnology.<\/p>\n

Professor Michael Hust adds: \u201cWe have many years of experience in developing antibodies against viral pathogens, including their translation into the clinic. This project is a milestone in the development of a therapeutic agent against various poxviruses.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Contributing partners<\/h3>\n

Partner in the THANATOS (Th<\/u>erapeutic a<\/u>ntibodies n<\/u>eutralizing a<\/u>ll t<\/u>he o<\/u>rthopoxvirus infectious for humans, including s<\/u>mallpox) project are: Commissariat a l\u2019energie atomique et aux energies alternatives (CEA, France), Technische Universit\u00e4t Braunschweig (Germany), Institut de Recherche Biom\u00e9dicale des Arm\u00e9es (IRBA, France), MabSilico (France), Helmholtz-Zentrum f\u00fcr Infektionsforschung (HZI, Germany), InnovationActa (Italy), NorthX Biologicals (Sweden), Eurofins Optimed (France), Centre Pasteur Cameroon (Cameroon), BSL Bioservice (Germany).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In addition to the eradicated \u201chuman\u201d smallpox (Orthopoxvirus variolae), which … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":43,"featured_media":85150,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","class_list":["post-85216","kb_presseinformation","type-kb_presseinformation","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","kb_cat_presse-research","kb_tags-engineering-for-health","kb_tags-international-en","kb_tags_internal-alumni"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nTherapeutic antibodies against poxviruses - TU Braunschweig | Blogs<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In addition to the eradicated \u201chuman\u201d smallpox (Orthopoxvirus variolae), which can only infect humans, there are other poxviruses. 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