2025/01/30 by Masaru Kanekiyo, Rebecca A. Gillespie, Kristine Cooper +33 · 2 voices · 1 citation
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Medicine · #Animal Disease Management and Epidemiology #Influenza Virus Research Studies #Respiratory viral infections research
paper · doi:10.1126/science.ado6481
openalex publication_date 2025/01/30 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/02
Influenza virus pandemics and seasonal epidemics have claimed countless lives. Recurrent zoonotic spillovers of influenza viruses with pandemic potential underscore the need for effective countermeasures. In this study, we show that pre-exposure prophylaxis with broadly neutralizing antibody (bnAb) MEDI8852 is highly effective in protecting cynomolgus macaques from severe disease caused by aerosolized highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus infection. Protection was antibody dose-dependent yet independent of Fc-mediated effector functions at the dose tested. Macaques receiving MEDI8852 at 10 milligrams per kilogram or higher had negligible impairment of respiratory function after infection, whereas control animals were not protected from severe disease and fatality. Given the breadth of MEDI8852 and other bnAbs, we anticipate that protection from unforeseen pandemic influenza A viruses is achievable.