Molecular Partners AG (MOLN), a clinical-stage biotechnology firm, is seeking emergency use authorization from the US FDA for ensovibep, a designed ankyrin repeat protein (DARPin) antiviral therapy candidate to treat COVID-19 through its partner.
MOLN is working on DARPin therapies, a novel class of custom-built protein therapies. Ensovibep is specially developed to prevent SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, from entering target cells.
Vir Biotechnology, Inc. (VIR), a commercial-stage immunology company, also made headlines when it announced that preclinical data suggests that sotrovimab, an investigational MAB (monoclonal antibody) approved for emergency use in the US, retains neutralizing activity against the BA.2 subvariant of Omicron.
Sotrovimab is an investigational SARS CoV2 neutralizing monoclonal antibody, according to the Vir team. The antibody binds to SARS CoV2 and SARS CoV1 (the virus that causes SARS), making it more difficult to develop resistance.
According to Vir’s CEO, George Scangos, the data confirms the ongoing importance of sotrovimab as a vital treatment in the battle against the ever-evolving SARS-CoV-2 virus.
“We highlight recent findings from another lab stating that no authorized or approved monoclonal antibodies for treatment preserve activity against all Omicron subvariants. “We are therefore glad to report that, depending on our pseudovirus and detailed pharmacokinetic data, we anticipate the 500-dose range of sotrovimab is adequate to sustain an action against the BA.2 variant, as well as all other variants of interest and concern. ”
Molecular Partners AG:
Molecular Partners AG is a clinical-stage biotech firm that is developing DARPin therapies, a novel class of custom-built protein medications that are meant to tackle challenges that conventional therapies cannot. The company has created collaborations with top pharmaceutical firms to enhance DARPin therapies in oncology, ophthalmology, and infectious diseases, and has compounds in different stages of preclinical and clinical development across many therapeutic domains.
Vir Biotechnology:
Vir Biotechnology is a commercial-stage immunology firm that aims to treat and prevent major infectious diseases by merging immunologic information with cutting-edge techniques.
