he Department of Defense (DOD) has turned to Evotec’s Just – Evotec Biologics subsidiary several times over the last few years to help combat various virus and bacterial threats including COVID-19, mpox and the bubonic plague (Yersinia pestis) with new antibodies to add to the U.S.’ medical countermeasure stockpile.
Now, with a multiyear award worth up to $39 million, the drugmaker is tasked with a larger-scale manufacturing solution as a part of the DOD’s Manufacturing Optimization Program.
Through the program, Just – Evotec Biologics will create a sped-up monoclonal antibody (mAb) development and manufacturing framework that should bolster the government’s rapid response capabilities for biologics medical countermeasures, according to an Evotec press release.