New SARS-CoV-2 Neutralizing Antibody enters Clinical Phase
18.12.2020 16:00:00 EET | Business Wire | Press release
Cologne University Hospital (UKK), University of Marburg (UMR), the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) and Boehringer Ingelheim today announced the initiation of Phase 1/2a clinical investigation of BI 767551, a new SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody. By combining UKK, UMR and DZIF’s expertise in virology, immunology and clinical investigation with Boehringer Ingelheim’s expertise in developing and manufacturing therapeutic antibodies, the partners developed BI 767551 as a potential new therapeutic and preventive/prophylactic option for fighting COVID-19.
Virus neutralizing antibodies are expected to become an important line of defense against SARS-CoV-2, complementing vaccines and nonpharmaceutical interventions. They are being investigated as a therapy option for individuals with mild or severe infections, but also as prevention or prophylaxis in non-infected people with a high risk of infection or at risk of serious outcomes. Directly delivering BI 767551 to the lung by inhalation has the potential to provide fast acting protection from virus infection in the respiratory tract.
The new antibody BI 767551 was derived from blood samples of recovered COVID-19 patients at UKK, examined for SARS-CoV-2 neutralization at UMR and developed further in collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim. The clinical study will be led by Prof. Florian Klein and Prof. Gerd Fätkenheuer at UKK and Boehringer Ingelheim will supply the antibody. “With BI 767551, we aim to provide an effective option for preventing and treating COVID-19,” explains Prof. Florian Klein, Director of the Institute for Virology at the Cologne University Hospital and Principal Investigator at the DZIF.
”Monoclonal antibodies are a promising component in the fight against new viruses, such as the SARS-CoV-2. If this antibody turns out to be effective against COVID-19, this finding could be helpful in the current and also in future epidemics and pandemics. I am glad that we are able to assist in the development of this compound," says Prof. Stephan Becker, Director of the Institute of Virology at University of Marburg and Coordinator Emerging Infections, DZIF.
“We are excited to contribute to the development of BI 767551 in collaboration with our partners, with the aim to provide an innovative SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody, combining a systemic with an inhaled route of administration” said Michel Pairet, member of Boehringer Ingelheim’s Board of Managing Directors with responsibility for the company’s Innovation Unit.
The Phase 1/2a studies (NCT04631705, NCT04631666) will evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics and antiviral activity of the antibody. In Phase 1, the antibody will be administered to participants either with a single infusion or a single inhalation. If the antibody is well tolerated, late-stage confirmatory studies will be conducted.
Please click on the following link for ‘Notes to Editors’:
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201218005318/en/
Contact information
Media Contacts
Boehringer Ingelheim
Dr. Reinhard Malin
Head of Communications Innovation Unit
Boehringer Ingelheim Corporate Center GmbH
Media + PR
P: +49 6132 77-90815
press@boehringer-ingelheim.com
Linda Ruckel
Senior Associate Director, Media and Corporate Reputation
Boehringer Ingelheim U.S.
Media + PR
P: +1 203-791-6672
press@boehringer-ingelheim.com
Cologne University Hospital (UKK)
Christoph Wanko
Stellvertretender Pressesprecher
Stabsabteilung Unternehmenskommunikation
und Marketing
Tel.: +49 (221) 478 88757
christoph.wanko@uk-koeln.de
University of Marburg (UMR)
Dr. Gabriele Neumann
Leiterin der Stabsstelle Hochschulkommunikation
Pressesprecherin
Tel.: +49 6421 28-26118
Mail: gabriele.neumann@uni-marburg.de
German Center for Infection Research (DZIF)
Karola Neubert und Janna Schmidt
Pressestelle
Tel. : +49 6181 1170/1154
presse@dzif.de
About Business Wire
For more than 50 years, Business Wire has been the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure.
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Phasecraft Joins DARPA’s Quantum Benchmarking Initiative3.3.2026 17:49:00 EET | Press release
Phasecraft, the world’s leading quantum algorithms company, today announced it has commenced work on the University of Maryland’s Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security’s (ARLIS) new contract to support the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) ongoing Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (QBI). QBI’s goal is to assess if it is possible to achieve utility-scale quantum computing by 2033. Phasecraft joins the contract as a technical expert and will leverage its proprietary software and quantum algorithms to develop optimized estimates of resource requirements for quantum applications to inform the U.S. Government (USG) verification and validation efforts. Evaluating Progress Towards Quantum Utility While the cutting-edge quantum hardware selected for QBI inches closer to commercial utility, ultra-efficient quantum algorithms like those Phasecraft develops are required to unlock the full potential of any quantum hardware. The company’s hardware-agnostic algori
Xsolla SDK Now Available for Game Developers Globally3.3.2026 16:48:00 EET | Press release
Xsolla, a global video game commerce company that has helped developers launch, grow, and monetize their games, today announced the availability of Xsolla SDK, a unified, cross-platform software development kit that consolidates the company's PC, mobile, and web monetization tools into a single download. Launching at GDC Festival of Games 2026, the Xsolla SDK introduces built-in Payments, Login, Catalog, and Offerwall integration for developers, enabling them to configure their pricing and inventory once and deploy across every supported platform with no reconfiguration required. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260303075966/en/ Graphic: Xsolla Xsolla is building all the things to help developers monetize cross-platform with the industry’s best-in-class, battle-tested technical foundation built specifically for games. The Xsolla SDK is powered by two decades of building payment and monetization tools exclusivel
Andersen Consulting Broadens Platform with Reach Consulting3.3.2026 16:30:00 EET | Press release
Andersen Consulting expands its platform in the Middle East through a Collaboration Agreement with Reach Consulting, a digital transformation and advisory firm headquartered in the UAE. Reach Consulting supports organizations in driving growth, managing risk, and navigating complex change through a comprehensive suite of services, including digital transformation, strategy, internal audit, and M&A advisory. With a presence across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, and Jordan, the firm serves public and private sector clients through tailored delivery, cross-functional expertise, and deep local insight. Reach Consulting combines scale with agility to advance operational performance and workforce innovation. “Transformation works best when local insight, cross-functional expertise, and practical execution come together,” said Suhail Shaker, managing director of Reach Consulting. “By collaborating with Andersen Consulting, we combine our regional presence with Andersen’s global platform,
ZAPI GROUP to Showcase New Electrification Solutions at ConExpo/AGG 20263.3.2026 16:03:00 EET | Press release
ZAPI GROUP, a global leader in electrification, will demonstrate new solution capabilities within industrial vehicle electrification at ConExpo/AGG, taking place (March 3-7) in Las Vegas. As electrified construction equipment evolves to include larger, more demanding applications, the group has developed new higher-powered on-board DC/DC converters, inverters, electrical motors, and battery chargers to support those performance requirements, while combining additional utility functions within a compact form-factor. Featured solutions include: For motive power applications, a third-generation high-voltage inverter (ACH3) with customizable control software for enhanced performance, and a permanent magnet, electrical motor solution (IMI), with an integrated, liquid-cooled power-electronic inverter. On the battery-charging front, there will be new high-voltage, high-powered 7.2 kW and 22 kW liquid-cooled on-board solutions designed for 100, 400 or 800V lithium-ion battery packs. The 7.2 kW
Carta Launches CRM with Acquisition of ListAlpha3.3.2026 16:01:00 EET | Press release
Carta, the world’s first fully interconnected system for private capital, today announced it has acquired ListAlpha, the AI-powered CRM and relationship intelligence platform. The acquisition marks the launch of Carta CRM, a major expansion of the Carta ERP that further unifies front-to-back office workflows for the private markets. Private equity and venture capital firms have long operated in a fragmented way, keeping relationship context in siloed CRMs while fund performance data remains trapped in back-office ledgers. This information silo quietly erodes clarity for deal teams and GPs, slowing down teams and decreasing capital velocity. By integrating ListAlpha’s specialized CRM directly into the Carta ecosystem, firms can unify front-office intelligence with back-office execution on a single platform. Effectively, Carta now provides the industry’s first comprehensive ERP for private capital, managing the entire investment lifecycle—seamlessly linking workflows from initial investo
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom