Mapp Biopharmaceutical
A US-based biopharmaceutical company known for developing plant-derived monoclonal antibodies against filoviruses, including ZMapp for Zaire Ebola and MBP134 for pan-Ebola coverage including Bundibugyo.
Last refreshed: 24 May 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Is Mapp Biopharmaceutical's newer antibody treatment better than ZMapp for current Ebola outbreaks?
Timeline for Mapp Biopharmaceutical
Mentioned in: Only Ebola treatment still cannot dose
Pandemics and BiosecurityDeveloped MBP134, the monoclonal antibody cocktail under trial for Bundibugyo Ebola
Pandemics and Biosecurity: Ebola drug trial awaits DRC, Uganda nodWhat is Mapp Biopharmaceutical and why is it involved in the Ebola outbreak?
Did ZMapp actually work against Ebola?
How is MBP134 different from ZMapp?
Background
Mapp Biopharmaceutical is the developer of MBP134, the experimental monoclonal antibody cocktail under consideration for a WHO-sponsored trial in the current Bundibugyo ebolavirus outbreak. The trial, which pairs MBP134 with remdesivir, is awaiting regulatory approval from the DRC and Uganda before dosing begins. Mapp's animal data showed 100% protection with MBP134 given up to eight days post-infection, supporting its selection for the trial.
Mapp Biopharmaceutical is a small, privately held biotechnology company founded in San Diego, California and known for plant-derived and monoclonal antibody therapies for infectious diseases. The company entered public consciousness in the 2014 West Africa Ebola outbreak when ZMapp, its earlier monoclonal antibody cocktail targeting Zaire ebolavirus, was administered on compassionate-use grounds to several critically ill patients including American aid workers. A randomised controlled trial published in 2016 found a survival advantage with ZMapp, though the trial was underpowered. MBP134 is the successor treatment, broadened to cover multiple Ebola species.
Mapp occupies a niche in the biodefence and neglected-disease space that larger pharmaceutical companies have historically avoided because commercial returns are limited. Its work on plant-expressed antibodies (tobacco-derived production via Kentucky BioProcessing) pioneered scalable biological manufacturing for outbreak response. The current WHO trial, if it receives regulatory clearance and demonstrates efficacy, would be the company's most significant clinical validation since the ZMapp compassionate-use episode.