New SARS-CoV-2 Neutralizing Antibody enters Clinical Phase
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
New Clinical Study Publication Validates Respiratory Outcomes for the Onera Home-polysomnography System12.1.2026 15:30:00 EET | Press release
Onera Health, a leader in transforming sleep medicine, announces the recent publication of a multicenter validation study of its Onera Sleep Test System (STS) in the ERJ Open Research, a leading, fully open-access scientific journal published by the European Respiratory Society (ERS). This is the second publication from this study, and it demonstrates that the patch-based Onera STS home-polysomnography (hPSG) device accurately identifies respiratory events and distinguishes AHI severity when validated against simultaneous in-lab polysomnography and is a viable option for unattended home use. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260112821647/en/ Patient sleeps with the patient-applied Onera home Polysomnography (Onera hPSG) solution. The international multicenter study was managed by an independent Clinical Research Organization and involved the analysis of 206 participants across seven clinical sites in Germany and
Riskified Analysis Reveals 1 in 4 Refund Dollars Is Abusive; Introduces "Dynamic Returns," a New Policy Protect Feature, to Safeguard Revenue While Increasing Customer Satisfaction12.1.2026 15:00:00 EET | Press release
Riskified (NYSE: RSKD) a leader in ecommerce fraud and risk intelligence, today released a research analysis highlighting a growing customer experience dilemma: As merchants tighten controls to fight a surge in return and refund abuse, they are inadvertently creating a more restrictive and frustrating experience for their best customers. To help retailers mitigate this challenge, Riskified has introduced a new feature in its Policy Protect solution, Dynamic Returns, AI-powered return decisions that adapt in real-time based on customer eligibility. Riskified's 2024 analysis of over a million refund claims found that 1-2% of total order value measured in sales dollars was requested back as refunds, with nearly 1 in 4 dollars claimed being abusive. In response to rising abuse, many retailers are implementing restrictive tactics like flat return fees, shorter return windows, and delaying refunds, often taking 10+ days for warehouse inspection. These measures frustrate good customers, as 68
BitGo Holdings Announces Launch of Initial Public Offering12.1.2026 15:00:00 EET | Press release
BitGo Holdings, Inc. (“BitGo”), the digital asset infrastructure company, today announced the launch of its initial public offering of 11,821,595 shares of Class A common stock pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-1 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The offering consists of 11,000,000 shares of Class A common stock being offered by BitGo and 821,595 shares of Class A common stock being offered by certain existing stockholders of BitGo. BitGo will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the shares by the selling stockholders in connection with the offering. In connection with the offering, BitGo intends to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 1,770,000 shares of Class A common stock. The initial public offering price is expected to be between $15 and $17 per share. BitGo has applied to list its Class A common stock on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "BTGO". Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC is acti
Esri’s Custom Chart Builder Adopted by the Shom (French Hydrographic and Oceanographic Office) for Nautical Chart Production12.1.2026 15:00:00 EET | Press release
Esri, the global leader in location intelligence, announced today that the Shom (French Hydrographic and Oceanographic Office) has officially adopted Custom Chart Builder (CCB) for automated production of all paper nautical charts. Following extensive testing and configuration, Shom confirmed that CCB-generated charts meet the stringent safety standards required by the French Navy, marking a pivotal advancement in automating maritime cartography and reinforcing its role as a pioneer in maritime digital transformation. “This adoption demonstrates that high-quality, regulation-compliant paper charts can now be produced without manual intervention, dramatically reducing production time and cost,” said Rafael Ponce, Esri principal maritime consultant. “Shom’s endorsement validates Esri’s CCB as a trusted solution for hydrographic offices worldwide, supporting the transition to digital-first workflows and e-navigation.” Over the course of 2024, Shom evaluated multiple software solutions and
France Expands National AAC Access for Agenus' Botensilimab + Balstilimab for Ovarian Cancer and Soft-Tissue Sarcomas12.1.2026 14:30:00 EET | Press release
Agenus Inc. (Nasdaq: AGEN), a leader in immuno-oncology innovation, today announced that France’s National Agency for Medicines and Health Products Safety (ANSM) has approved an updated national treatment protocol for botensilimab (BOT) plus balstilimab (BAL) under France’s Autorisation d’Accès Compassionnel (AAC) framework. The updated protocol expands France’s previously granted AAC authorization for BOT+BAL in patients with microsatellite-stable (MSS) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) without active liver metastases to eligible patients with certain ovarian cancers and soft-tissue sarcomas—diseases with substantial unmet medical need after standard options have been exhausted. The revised protocol is designed to broaden the eligibility criteria, allowing more patients with advanced solid tumors to have early access to BOT+BAL under reimbursed compassionate use, and to enhance monitoring and treatment procedures in participating hospitals. BOT+BAL is a chemotherapy- and radiation-f
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