Evotec's Just biologics unit starts Phase 1 trial of antibody cocktail against orthopoxviruses
JST-018, developed for the U.S. Department of War's Accelerated Antibodies Program, moves into first-in-human testing after manufacturing at Evotec's Redmond facility.
Evotec SE announced on September 9, 2026 that its biologics CDMO subsidiary Just – Evotec Biologics had initiated a Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating JST-018, an investigational monoclonal antibody cocktail aimed at orthopoxviruses, developed under the U.S. Department of War's Accelerated Antibodies Program.1
Under that program, Just – Evotec Biologics moved the orthopoxvirus program through the full pipeline, from selecting antibody sequences to preclinical work, process development, regulatory filing, and cGMP production of clinical trial material.1 The manufacturing step took place at the company's J.POD facility in Redmond, Washington, using its continuous bioprocessing platform.1
The trial fulfills terms set out in a 2023 contract between Just – Evotec Biologics and the U.S. Department of War covering the progression of antibody-based candidates against orthopoxviruses from continuous manufacturing process development into first-in-human clinical testing.1 JST-018 is designed as a preventive treatment meant to protect military personnel who could face heightened exposure risk to biological threats.1
The target virus family includes pathogens behind smallpox and mpox, and this virus family remains an important focus of biodefense and global public health preparedness.1 The company said its continuous manufacturing platform offers a rapid and cost-effective way to produce these medical countermeasures.1
This marks Just – Evotec Biologics' second program under the Department of War's Accelerated Antibodies Program, following a 2022 award for antibodies targeting plague.1 The two contracts together carry a combined potential value of up to $123.9 million.1 The orthopoxvirus contract, numbered MCDC2203-001, was awarded in 2023 through the Medical CBRN Defense Consortium Other Transaction Authority, in collaboration with BARDA and the Department of War's CPE-CBRND office.1
More details on the study are listed on ClinicalTrials.gov under identifier NCT07595458.1
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