Mapp Biopharmaceutical Inc.
Mapp Biopharmaceutical Inc. is an American pharmaceutical company based in San Diego, California, founded in 2003 by Dr. Larry Zeitlin and Dr. Kevin Whaley. The company's core mission is the development of novel pharmaceuticals for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, with a strategic focus on addressing unmet needs in global health and biodefense. The company is primarily engaged in pharmaceutical research and the development of monoclonal antibody therapeutics.
Continue…Core Business and Focus
Mapp Biopharmaceutical???s expertise lies in the discovery, identification, and advancement of potent monoclonal antibodies through preclinical and clinical development. The company has a strong track record of securing non-dilutive financing for its development programs, often through government and public health agencies focused on biodefense and emerging infectious threats. Their work is fundamentally concentrated on leveraging antibody technology to provide treatments and prophylactic measures against severe and often neglected viral and infectious diseases.
The company???s research pipeline is centered on infectious disease and includes programs targeting a range of pathogens. A significant portion of its work is in collaboration with various governmental and international bodies, reflecting its focus on high-consequence pathogens and public health preparedness.
Products and Pipeline
Mapp Biopharmaceutical???s portfolio consists of product candidates that aim to prevent and treat various infectious diseases. The company's product development is entirely focused on monoclonal antibody-based therapies.
ZMapp
The company is most widely recognized for ZMapp, a therapeutic candidate developed as a treatment for Ebola virus disease.
* Composition: ZMapp is a drug comprising a cocktail of three humanized monoclonal antibodies.
* Development and Recognition: The drug gained international attention when it was first tested in humans during the 2014 West Africa Ebola virus outbreak under compassionate use protocols. Its development was a collaborative effort involving Mapp Biopharmaceutical, its commercial arm LeafBio, Defyrus Inc., the U.S. government, and the Public Health Agency of Canada.
* Manufacturing: ZMapp has been notably manufactured using a process called "pharming," where the antibodies are produced in the Nicotiana benthamiana tobacco plant by a partner company.
Advanced Pipeline Therapeutics
Beyond ZMapp, Mapp Biopharmaceutical is actively advancing several other monoclonal antibody candidates, often with funding and support from entities like the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).
- Marburg Virus Disease (MARV): The company is advancing the development of a therapeutic for Marburg virus disease. The candidate, known as MBP091, is a single monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapeutic intended for the treatment of MARV infections. This program includes collaborations with CDMOs to develop an afucosylated antibody cell line, a technique used to enhance the antibody's efficacy, specifically its Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity (ADCC).
- Nipah Virus: Mapp Biopharmaceutical is also involved in the development of a novel antibody for immediate protection against the deadly Nipah virus, with new human trials progressing to test its efficacy.
- Other Portfolio Areas: The broader portfolio of product candidates also includes treatments for other infectious agents such as Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) infections.
Services and Commercialization
The company's commercialization and service arm is LeafBio, Inc..
- Commercial Arm: LeafBio serves as the commercialization vehicle for Mapp Biopharmaceutical's drug products and pipeline.
- Consulting Services: LeafBio also provides specialized consulting services within the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors. These services are centered on pharmaceutical research and development, laboratory testing, and general biotechnology consulting, with an emphasis on R&D relating to biodefense and high-priority infectious diseases.
- Broader Disease Focus: While Mapp Biopharmaceutical's flagship products focus on filoviruses, LeafBio's stated focus encompasses the research and development of monoclonal antibody products for a wider array of indications, including viral and infectious diseases (respiratory, gastrointestinal, and reproductive), as well as cancer, and central nervous system and neurological disorders.
