South Korea-based CDMO Samsung Biologics and U.S.-based Vir Biotechnology announced a manufacturing agreement under which Samsung will perform large scale manufacturing services for Vir's SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibody (mAb) program.
Vir's lead SARS-CoV-2 mAb development candidates, VIR-7831 and VIR-7832, have demonstrated high affinity for the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and are highly potent in neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 in live-virus cellular assays. Vir plans to proceed directly into a phase 2 clinical trial within the next three to five months. The COVID-19 treatment won approval from the U.S. FDA on a fast-track basis.
Per the $362 million deal, Samsung is expected to start manufacturing as early as October with the first engineering run, with potential commercial batches to be manufactured starting in 2021 at the CDMO's third plant.
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