Just – Evotec Biologics has been selected by BARDA to support antibody manufacturing for Ebola and related viruses.

The Seattle-based subsidiary of Evotec will work under a multi-year agreement worth up to $10 million to optimise production of a monoclonal antibody cocktail targeting filovirus diseases, including Ebola virus and Sudan virus.

The programme forms part of the US government’s efforts to strengthen preparedness for outbreaks of haemorrhagic fevers. While treatments exist for Ebola virus disease, there are currently no approved therapies for Sudan virus, highlighting a gap in available countermeasures.

Under the agreement, Just – Evotec Biologics will focus on improving manufacturing processes for two antibodies identified in survivors of the 2014 Ebola outbreak. These antibodies are believed to reflect protective immune responses and could form the basis of future therapeutics.

The work will include molecular optimisation, cell line development and process development aimed at enabling scalable and cost-efficient production. The goal is to create manufacturing processes that can be deployed rapidly in response to public health emergencies.

Linda Zuckerman, evp global head of biotherapeutics at Just – Evotec Biologics, said: “In outbreak scenarios, speed, scalability and manufacturing robustness are critical.”

She added: “Our technology-driven approach is designed to deliver resilient, industry-leading high-yield production processes that can support rapid deployment in public health emergencies.”

The agreement sits within BARDA’s Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Preparedness Consortium, which focuses on expanding US-based manufacturing capacity and improving readiness for future health threats.

For Evotec, the deal reflects continued demand for flexible biologics manufacturing platforms, particularly those that can deliver higher yields and faster timelines. The company has positioned its Just – Evotec Biologics unit as a provider of integrated development and manufacturing services, with an emphasis on process efficiency.

The focus on manufacturing optimisation rather than new drug discovery underlines a broader shift in pandemic preparedness strategies. Governments are increasingly investing in production capabilities alongside therapeutic innovation, recognising that speed of supply can be as critical as clinical efficacy during outbreaks.

However, the announcement is primarily a programme agreement rather than a late-stage development milestone. The value of the collaboration will depend on whether the optimised processes can translate into viable therapeutic production and support future approvals.

The project is funded by the US Department of Health and Human Services through BARDA, as part of wider efforts to improve response capabilities for infectious disease threats.