Sharjah24 – Reuters: AstraZeneca AZN.L moved to bolster its COVID-19 portfolio of antibodies on Tuesday with a $157 million licensing deal for experimental therapies developed by newly-launched biotech RQ Bio.
In addition to the initial sum, the Anglo-Swedish drugmaker faces possible royalty payments as part of the exclusive licence to develop pre-clinical COVID antibodies engineered by RQ Bio, the start-up said. AstraZeneca announced the deal but not its size.
The antibodies include those designed to target people with compromised immune systems - such as AstraZeneca's own antibody cocktail, Evusheld, which has already been approved in multiple countries.
The deal gives AstraZeneca the rights to develop and sell six antibodies, none of which has been tested in humans so far, RQ Bio CEO Hugo Fry said in an interview with Reuters.
In lab studies, the antibodies have been shown to work against all known variants, including Omicron, he said.
Access to a fresh crop of COVID antibodies will bolster AstraZeneca's COVID portfolio, which is expecting to see a rapid decline in COVID vaccine sales in 2022.
The Anglo-Swedish drugmaker's vaccine was its second bestseller last year, but it has struggled to compete with rivals made by Pfizer PFE.N and Moderna MRNA.O, and has hit setbacks with production, rare side-effects and relatively limited shelf life.
AstraZeneca's Evusheld - which is designed to prevent symptomatic COVID infections in people who are unable to derive maximum benefit from vaccines - is expected to partially offset waning vaccine sales.
For an optimal experience, please
