Vir Biotechnology Snags BARDA Contract Potentially Worth Up to $1 Billion
Vir Biotechnology received a multi-year contract from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to advance the development of a pre-exposure drug for influenza and other potential products for infectious disease threats.
In a first step, BARDA is investing approximately $55 million for the development of VIR-2482, an investigational prophylactic monoclonal antibody (mAb) designed to protect against seasonal and pandemic influenza.
The initial investment will fund a phase 2 clinical trial set to begin sometime this year with initial data expected in mid-2023.
The BARDA agreement could also provide support for Vir’s clinical development of additional monoclonal antibodies targeting influenza, as well as up to 10 emerging infectious disease or chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear medical countermeasures.
Vir Biotechnology, Inc., a commercial-stage immunology company, develops therapeutic products to treat and prevent serious infectious diseases. It develops Sotrovimab (VIR-7832), a SARS-CoV-2-neutralizing mAbs to treat and prevent COVID-19 infection under the Xevudy brand; VIR-2218 and VIR-3434 for the treatment of hepatitis B virus; VIR-2482 for the prevention of influenza A virus; and VIR-1111 for the prevention of human immunodeficiency virus. The company has grant agreements with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and National Institutes of Health; an option and license agreement with Brii Biosciences Limited and Brii Biosciences Offshore Limited; a collaboration and license agreement with Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; license agreements with The Rockefeller University and MedImmune, Inc.; collaboration with WuXi Biologics and Glaxo Wellcome UK Ltd.; and a collaborative research agreement with GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals SA. It also has a manufacturing agreement with Samsung Biologics Co.,Ltd. for the manufacture of SARS-COV-2 antibodies; and clinical collaboration with Gilead Sciences, Inc. for chronic hepatitis B virus. Vir Biotechnology, Inc. was incorporated in 2016 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.
October 5, 2022
