Oral Presentation International Veterinary Immunology Symposium 2016

Passive Immunotherapy Using Human Immunoglobulin from Transchromosomic Bovine (#37)

Eddie Sullivan 1
  1. SAB, USA, Geelong, VIC, Australia

SAB Biotherapeutics (SAB) has successfully developed a unique transchromosomic (Tc) bovine platform that can rapidly produce potent, fully human, immunoglobulins against a variety of disease targets including viruses and bacteria in significant quantities (up to 600g/month/animal of highly purified immunoglobulin). Several forms of passive immunotherapy to prevent and treat viral infection have and are being studied in animals. Convalescent plasma have been used in humans, but logistical and production limitations have prevented widespread use. Additionally, convalescent plasma and specific monoclonal antibodies to viruses are unlikely to have significant cross-protection efficacy against other strains.  To overcome these limitations, we propose the use of a novel platform to rapidly produce and deliver high-titer human polyclonal immunoglobulin for treatment and post-exposure prophylaxis of viruses and other infectious and toxin-mediated diseases. SAB has developed a Tc bovine in which the bovine immunoglobulin genes have been knocked out and a human artificial chromosome (HAC) containing the full germ line sequence of human immunoglobulin has been inserted. Each Tc bovine can produce 150 to 600 grams per month of purified immunoglobulin and the platform is rapidly scalable. Experimental high-titer immunoglobulins have been rapidly produced against tri-valent seasonal influenza (pH1N1, H3N2, type B), bi-valent hantavirus (Andes, Sin Nombre), tri-valent alphavirus (VEE, EEE, WEE), MERS-CoV, and anthrax, among others.