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Vilobelimab is a first-in-class monoclonal anti-human complement factor C5a antibody, which highly and effectively blocks the biological activity of C5a and demonstrates high selectivity towards its target in human blood. Thus, vilobelimab leaves the formation of the membrane attack complex (C5b-9) intact as an important defense mechanism of the innate immune system, which is not the case for molecules blocking C5.
In preclinical studies, vilobelimab has been shown to control the inflammatory response-driven tissue and organ damage by specifically blocking C5a as a key “amplifier” of this response; and has been proven safe and well tolerated in multiple clinical studies as well. In a first clinical Phase 2a multi-center placebo-controlled dose escalation study in patients suffering from early septic organ dysfunction, biological proof of concept was established, demonstrating its unique C5a blocking ability as well as selectivity (leaving MAC formation intact). Vilobelimab is currently in a Phase 2 clinical platform study (funded by BARDA) in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).