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Atea Pharmaceuticals Announces Chugai In-License of AT-527 from Roche for the Treatment of COVID-19 in Japan
Chugai obtains exclusive development and marketing rights for AT-527 in Japan from Roche, who has ex-US rights for the treatment of COVID-19 BOSTON, Feb. 19,
About this update from Atea Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"Chugai obtains exclusive development and marketing rights for AT-527 in Japan from Roche, who has ex-US rights for the treatment of COVID-19\nBOSTON, Feb. 19, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Atea Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: AVIR) (“Atea”), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, today announced that Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (TOKYO: 4519) has in-licensed the rights for AT-527 for the treatment of COVID-19 in Japan from Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY). Under a strategic collaboration, Roche and Atea are jointly developing AT-527 for the treatment of COVID-19 and Roche has the right to commercialize AT-527 outside of the United States. AT-527 is an orally administered, direct-acting antiviral developmental agent derived from Atea’s purine nucleotide prodrug platform and is in Phase 2 development for the treatment of COVID-19. “This agreement between Roche and Chugai underscores a commitment to global accessibility of AT-527 to fight COVID-19 and accelerates its entry into this important Asian market,” said Jean-Pierre Sommadossi, Ph.D., Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Atea Pharmaceuticals. “We are delighted that Chugai, who is closely aligned with Roche through a strategic alliance, will undertake this important work, as they have commercial and development expertise and are a market leader in Japan.” Atea and Roche announced a strategic collaboration on October 22, 2020. The collaboration aims to accelerate the clinical development and manufacturing of AT-527, to investigate its safety and efficacy, and to provide this potential treatment option to patients around the world as quickly as possible. About AT-527 AT-527 is an orally administered, direct-acting developmental antiviral agent derived from Atea’s nucleotide prodrug platform. AT-527 is currently under evaluation as a treatment for patients with COVID-19. In collaboration with Roche, AT-527 is currently being evaluated in a global Phase 2 study for hospitalized patients with moderate COVID-19 and a Phase 2 virology study in patients with mild or moderate COVID-19 in an outpatient setting. A pivotal Phase 3 trial is planned in the outpatient setting. A direct-acting antiviral aims to prevent disease progression by minimizing or eliminating viral replication and thereby reducing the severity of the disease, preventing or shortening hospitalization, and also ...