2016 Argonne Labs Data/Tech: Leads To Potential 2019 Ebola Therapeutic Vector...

I'll note that several of my childhood heroes -- working out of the world-renown University of Chicago's Argonne Labs [think Drs. Enrico Fermi and Edwin Goldwasser here, historically] have identified a potential new target along the ebola virus protein strands, using that Argonne-developed Advanced Photon Source tech -- to identify an SBC beamline that helped to show how two human antibodies were able to neutralize the virus, in vitro.

From that 2016 data, a candidate was developed, and has now been granted FDA breakthrough status -- with clinical trials now well underway -- in fact, nearly completed. . . here at the end of the decade. Here's a bit of the story -- do go read it all:

. . . .Researchers grew crystals of two antibodies, mAb114 and mAb100, in complex with the Ebola virus protein. Using the Advanced Photon Source, the researchers were able to show how these antibodies could neutralize the virus. . . .

Each antibody was able to bind to the Ebola protein and block it from entering human cells. In recent clinical trials, patients exposed to the virus received a drug developed by the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases based on one of those antibodies, mAb114. Those patients had a 90% survival rate — almost twice the rate of previous available treatments. The [candidate], which has been licensed by Miami-based Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, has a Breakthrough Therapy designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and is currently under expedited development. . . .

A second [candidate,] using different antibodies and developed by New York-based Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, REGN-EB3, has shown similar results. . . .

This is welcome news, to aging and crinkly-cornered smiling Irish eyes -- sorely in need of some. . . not just good -- but better. . . news. Onward.

नमस्ते