ABL awarded seven-year NIH contract for continued support in HIV prevention products

ABL to provide NIH Division of AIDS (DAIDS) with services to aid preclinical research, development of pediatric formulations and advancement of next generation non-vaccine HIV prevention products

Rockville, MD, United States, May 23, 2023 – Advanced BioScience Laboratories (ABL), a global Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) for biotherapies, oncolytics and viral vector vaccines, today announces it has been awarded a contract for ‘Resources to Advance Pediatrics and HIV Prevention Science (RAPPS)’ by the Division of AIDS (DAIDS) within the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

This seven-year contract has a total potential funding value of $98.9 million. ABL will provide DAIDS with (i) preclinical gap-filling, (ii) animal models, (iii) bioanalytical services, (iv) product manufacturing and (v) other scientific and quality/regulatory services to support preclinical research, development of pediatric formulations and advancement of next generation non-vaccine Biomedical HIV Prevention products (nBPs) such as IntraVaginal Rings (IVRs), long-acting injectables and Multipurpose Prevention Technologies (MPTs) composed of a combination of drugs that can target prevention of pregnancy, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and/or HIV.

Since the 1980s, ABL scientists have been actively supporting NIAID’s mission, contributing to research on HIV pathogenesis and the development of therapeutics and vaccines.

“This contract is the next step in ABL’s historic relationship with DAIDS – in which ABL provides the preclinical services required to advance the development of biomedical prevention concepts toward the clinical phase. We look forward to continuing to serve as the collaborative bridge between DAIDS and the most innovative investigators in the field, supporting its mission to prevent, treat and cure HIV, particularly in the underserved pediatric population,” said Peter Silvera, Principal Investigator, Innovation and Translation at ABL, Inc.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), worldwide, there are over 38 million individuals living with HIV, with an estimated 4,000 new infections daily. The development of safe, effective and acceptable products to treat or prevent the transmission of HIV plays a major role in the global reduction of HIV infections. Women and girls remain disproportionately affected, representing 53% of all people living with HIV. Moreover, despite the development of effective treatment and prevention regimens, lack of access and poor product adherence remain significant barriers for these at-risk populations. Only about one quarter of AntiRetroViral (ARV) drugs approved for adults by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the European Medicines Agency (EMA) are approved for children younger than two years. With ABL’s continuing expertise, DAIDS will be able to support the development and advancement of promising HIV prevention products for the pediatric population.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
The NIH, the US medical research agency, includes 27 institutes and centers and is a component of the US Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical research. It investigates the causes, treatments and cures for both common and rare diseases.
For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov

About ABL
ABL, Inc. is a global contract research and manufacturing organization dedicated to advancing therapeutics, vaccines and other biological products. It has extensive experience working with diverse organizations including industry, government and academic entities. ABL maintains global GMP facilities meeting US and European regulatory standards, providing manufacturing capabilities for the development and production of virus-based oncolytic therapies, gene therapies and viral vaccines. Our services include bulk drug substance, live virus fill/finish, process and assay development. We also support clients’ preclinical and clinical sample processing and testing needs through our immunological laboratories. ABL is a part of the Institut Mérieux, a group of companies dedicated to developing translational science for better patient care globally.
www.ablinc.com