Roche terminates development of COVID-19 oral antiviral drug AT-527

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After the recent successes of Pfizer and Merck, the failed COVID-19 drugs were forgotten by the industry

More than a year ago, Roche and Atea signed a $350 million cooperation agreement for the oral antiviral drug AT-527

However, a key Phase 2 clinical trial in patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 that was published in October this year did not meet the primary endpoint

Roche still seems to be working with Atea, despite failures and delays

The COVID-19 activities mentioned by Roche include its internal diagnostic work and the antibody cocktail therapy Ronapreve developed in cooperation with Regeneron.

Due to Roche’s withdrawal, all rights and licenses previously granted to Roche by Atea will be returned to Atea.

Although Roche has left, Atea has not yet abandoned the AT-527 project, saying that it is still conducting Phase 3 trials and expects to obtain data in the second half of 2022

However, it may be too late

If these oral drugs, together with other drugs from other pharmaceutical companies (such as GlaxoSmithKline/Vir), prove to be sufficient in the real world to prevent death and serious illness from COVID-19, then it will be like ours in the COVID-19 vaccine As you have seen, the demand for such treatments may plummet

Reference source: As Merck and Pfizer predict incoming billions from their COVID drugs, Roche culls pandemic ties with Atea