2026-07770NoticeWallet

NIH Offers Mosquito-Fighting Antibodies for Licensing to Combat West Nile

Published Date: 4/22/2026

Notice

Summary

The National Institutes of Health is offering licenses for new antibodies that fight West Nile virus, a serious illness spread by mosquitoes. These antibodies could lead to treatments or preventions, especially for people at high risk. Companies interested in developing these inventions can start licensing now, with some international protections available too.

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Licenses Offered for WNV Antibodies

The NIH (NIAID) is offering commercial licenses and collaborative research opportunities for seven new fully human monoclonal antibodies against West Nile virus. Licensing is available now under 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37 CFR part 404, a signed Confidential Disclosure Agreement is required to obtain unpublished information, and HHS Reference No. E-021-2026-0 (Provisional Patent No. 63/991,485 filed February 26, 2026) is listed; contact Brian Bailey at 240-669-5128 or [email protected] for licensing.

Potential Treatments for High-Risk People

Researchers identified antibodies that "could help prevent WNV disease in people at higher risk or treat infection early," noting West Nile virus can cause severe disease especially in older adults and people with weakened immune systems and that there is currently no approved human vaccine or specific antiviral treatment. The antibodies are pre-clinical but are described as candidates for prevention or treatment, individually or in combination.

Antibodies Useful for Diagnostics and Surveillance

The NIH states these high-quality antibodies "may also be useful in laboratory tests for WNV diagnosis, surveillance, and research," and they are available for licensing or collaborative development for such uses. This could support public health testing and monitoring efforts.

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Key Dates

Published Date
4/22/2026

Department and Agencies

Department
Independent Agency
Agency
Health and Human Services Department
National Institutes of Health
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