Safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and immunogenicity of JMB2002–an antibody against COVID-19: a phase 1 clinical trial in healthy Chinese adults

BACKGROUND: The emergence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and subsequent Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in a significant global public health burden, leading to an urgent need for effective therapeutic strategies. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are a potentially effective therapeutic option. We identified a potent antibody JMB2002 against the SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain. JMB2002 has demonstrated therapeutic efficacy in a SARS-CoV-2 infected rhesus macaque model. METHODS: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, phase 1 trial to evaluate the JMB2002’s safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and immunogenicity in healthy Chinese adults. Participants were randomly assigned to one of four cohorts with sequential dose, administrated intravenously with JMB2002 or placebo, and followed up for 85 ± 5 days. RESULTS: 40 participants were recruited and completed in the study. Eight (25.0%) participants experienced 13 treatment emergent adverse events (TEAEs) that were drug-related. No serious adverse events (SAEs), dose limiting events (DLTs), or adverse events of special interest (AESIs), such as infusion related/allergic reactions, were observed, and no drop out due to adverse events (AEs) occurred. There was no significant safety difference observed between JMB2002 and the placebo, suggesting it was well tolerated. The AUC(0−∞), AUC(0 − t) of JMB2002 infusion increased dose-dependently from 5 mg/kg to 50 mg/kg while there is also a linear trend between doses and C(max). CONCLUSION: Therefore, JMB2002 was well tolerated after administration of a single dose in the range of 5 mg/kg to 50 mg/kg in healthy Chinese adults. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR2100042150 at https://www.chictr.org.cn/searchproj.aspx (14/01/2021).