Therapeutics: Influenza A virus hemagglutinin

In vitro and mouse studies identified antibodies generated by prior influenza vaccinations that could help protect against new H7N9 strains. In vitro testing of 83 antibodies with activity against H3N2 isolated from vaccinated individuals identified six antibodies that bound the conserved hemagglutinin stalk region of H7N9, three of which neutralized H7N9. In mice challenged with H7N9, the neutralizing antibodies prevented infection at similar doses to each other. In H7N9-infected mice, the antibodies increased survival compared with a control IgG or non-neutralizing antibody against the virus. Next steps could include evaluating the safety and efficacy of the neutralizing antibodies in humans.

Roche has RG7745, an mAb that binds a conserved region on hemagglutinin, in Phase II testing to treat influenza A virus. ...