29 October 2020
Novartis and Molecular Partners have collaborated to manufacture, develop, and market two of the latter’s DARPin therapeutic medicines, the MP0420 and MP0423 for the prevention and treatment of Covid-19. The collaboration aims to leverage the two companies’ expertise in drug development, regulation and distribution to rapidly advance the treatment options for Covid-19.
Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) have signed a Statement of Intent with Gavi, the vaccine alliance, which runs the COVAX Facility that aims to provide equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines globally. The pharmaceutical companies have agreed to produce available approximately 200 million doses of their protein-based COVID-19 vaccine, once approved and according to the terms of the contract with the COVAX Facility.
Eli Lilly and the US Government have entered into an agreement for the former to supply 300,000 vials of bamlanivimab (LY-CoV555), an investigational neutralising antibody, for approximately $375m. Lilly submitted a request for an emergency use authorisation (EUA) for bamlanivimab for treating mild to moderate Covid-19 in high-risk patients to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The US Government will only accept the vials if Lilly receives an EUA for bamlanivimab.
Boehringer Ingelheim announced that it has commenced a Phase II clinical trial of BI 764198, a novel first-in-class compound to treat hospitalised infected Covid-19 patients suffering with severe respiratory conditions. BI 764198, an inhibitor of TRPC6, reduces damage caused to the lungs, and the need for ventilator support.
