17th Feb 2021 12:17
(Alliance News) - GlaxoSmithKline PLC on Wednesday said it has agreed with Vir Biotechnology Inc to expand their existing collaboration to include the research & development of new therapies for influenza and other respiratory viruses.
The Brentford, England-based pharmaceutical company said the expanded collaboration - which builds on the agreement signed in 2020 to research & develop therapies for coronaviruses - provides GSK exclusive rights to collaborate with Vir on the development of monoclonal antibodies for the prevention or treatment of influenza.
GSK said it will have the exclusive option to co-develop VIR-2482 after Vir completes and reports phase 2 trial outcomes, and will share development costs on the development of all other influenza monoclonal antibodies.
As part of the new collaboration agreement, the companies will also engage in two additional research programmes. The first is an expansion of their current functional genomics collaboration to develop potential pan-coronavirus therapeutics to now include other respiratory virus targets.
Under the second programme, the companies will collaborate to develop up to three neutralising monoclonal antibodies identified using Vir's antibody technology platform to target non-influenza pathogens during a three-year research period.
"I am delighted that we are expanding our collaboration with Vir whose focus on novel antibodies, expertise in functional genomics, unique technology and talented scientists will further strengthen GSK's position as a world leader in infectious diseases," said Hal Barron, chief scientific officer & president of Research & Development at GSK.
GSK shares were trading 0.2% lower in London on Wednesday at 1,270.80 pence each.
By Evelina Grecenko; [email protected]
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