Fully human monoclonal antibodies are being developed by Vir Biotechnology utilising its antibody screening platform for the prevention and treatment of COVID-2019 infections. The antibodies are designed to bind and neutralise Wuhan coronavirus (2019-nCoV). The company also identified antibodies targeting SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in the region that the virus uses to enter cells through the cellular receptor ACE2. The coronavirus spike protein plays a key role in the early steps of viral infection. Early research is underway in the US.

The antibody screening platform identifies the antibodies produced from survivors of an infection and further engineer them to enhance their therapeutic potential. The company is also utilising its whole genome CRISPR-based screening capabilities (innate immunity platform) to identify and target the host receptor that allows Wuhan coronavirus infection.

The company is also investigating other approaches to identify additional potential therapies for SARS-CoV-2. In addition to testing these two antibodies, the company is also exploring the isolation of new antibodies specific for this virus using its antibody technology platform ^[1] .

VIR 7831 and VIR 7832 has been advanced in development for the treatment of COVID-2019 infections [see Adis Insight drug profile s800058114 and 800058115].

As at February 2024, no recent reports of development had been identified for research development in COVID-2019-infections in USA (Parenteral), research development in COVID-2019-infections (Prevention) in USA (Parenteral).

In February 2020, Vir Biotechnology entered into a development and manufacturing collaboration with WuXi Biologics to advance and produce human monoclonal antibodies for treatment of COVID-2019 infections. Under the terms of the agreement, the companies will work together on the clinical development, manufacturing, and commercialisation of proprietary antibodies of Vir Biotechnology. Cell-line development, process and formulation development as well as initial manufacturing for clinical development will be conducted by WuXi Biologics. Once regulatory approval are recieved, WuXi Biologics has the rights to commercialise therapies in Greater China, and Vir has the rights to commercialise therapies in all other markets worldwide. Financial details were not disclosed. ^{[2] [3]}

In May 2020, Vir Biotechnology and Biogen entered a R&D agreement for the process development and manufacturing activities to enable commercial supply of Vir’s SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies. As part of the agreement, Biogen will conduct cGMP clinical manufacturing in the US and provide technical support to facilitate rapid process transfer to Samsung Biologics and potentially other large-scale biomanufacturing facilities in the US and all other regions of the globe, in order to provide reliable supply of a commercial product. Biogen and Vir will collaborate to develop highly productive clonal cell lines and clinical and commercial manufacturing processes for Vir’s SARS-CoV-2 antibody candidates. Earlier in March 2020, Vir Biotechnology signed a letter of intent with Biogen for the same. ^{[4] [5] [6]}

In March 2020, Vir Biotechnology and Generation Bio, entered into a research and development agreement to explore the potential of latter’s non-viral gene therapy platform to extend the impact and reach of Vir’s current or future human monoclonal antibodies (mAb) against SARS-CoV-2. Under the collaboration the companies aim to develop long-lasting therapies for both population-wide prevention and treatment. Generation Bio’s platform is designed to deliver genetic information directly to cells without the use of adeno-associated viruses (AAV), thereby instructing the patient’s body to produce the antibody itself. This approach may enable maintenance of stable levels of antibody expression for years, providing continuous protection against the target virus. The non-viral gene therapy platform coupled with Vir’s potent neutralizing antibodies, has the potential to provide effective, long-lasting protection against SARS-CoV-2. Other financial details of the agreement were not disclosed. ^[7]

In March 2020, Vir Biotechnology entered into a license agreement with Xencor to obtain non-exclusive access to Xencor's Xtend™ Fc technology to extend the half life of antibodies that are being developed by Vir Biotechnology for the potential treatment of COVID-19 infections. According to the terms of the agreement, the sole responsilibility of research, development, regulatory and commercial activities along with its costs, lies with Vir Biotechnology. Earlier, in August 2019, Vir Biotechnology had entered into a separate patent license agreement with Xencor, Inc. Under the terms of the agreement, Vir Biotechnology obtained a non-exclusive, sublicensable license to incorporate Xencor’s half-life extension Fc region-related technologies into, and to evaluate, antibodies that target influenza A and HBV, and a worldwide, non-exclusive, sublicensable license to develop and commercialize products containing antibodies incorporating such technologies for all uses, including the treatment, palliation, diagnosis and prevention of human or animal diseases, disorders or conditions. The Vir Biotechnology is obligated to use commercially reasonable efforts to develop and commercialize an antibody product that incorporates Xencor’s half-life extension Fc-related technologies, for each of the influenza A and HBV research programs. These technologies are used in the Vir Biotechnology VIR 2482 and VIR 3434 product candidates. In consideration for the grant of the license, the Vir Biotechnology paid Xencor an upfront fee. For each of the influenza A and HBV research programs, the company will be required to pay Xencor development and regulatory milestone payments of up to $US17.8 million in the aggregate, and commercial sales milestone payments of up to $US60.0 million in the aggregate, for a total of up to $US77.8 million in aggregate milestones for each program and $US155.5 million in aggregate milestones for both programs. On a product-by-product basis, the company will also be obligated to pay tiered royalties based on net sales of licensed products in the low single-digits. The royalties are payable, on a product-by-product and country-by-country basis, until the expiration of the last to expire valid claim in the licensed patents covering such product in such country ^{[8] [9]}

In March 2020, Vir Biotechnology entered into a research collaboration agreement with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and Vaccine Research Center (VRC) to advance characterisation and development of human monoclonal antibodies against coronaviruses including SARS-CoV-2. Under the terms of the agreement Vir and NIAID will work together to identify and optimise combinations of antibodies against coronaviruses including SARS-CoV-2, SARS and MERS as well as antibodies that may be effective across additional types of coronaviruses. ^[10]

As of February 2020, Vir Biotechnology identified antibodies from an existing library of 20 fully human antibodies that bind and neutralize related coronaviruses such as SARS-CoV and Coronaviruses that infect animals ^[1] .

In January 2020, Vir Biotechnology reported that it is evaluating monoclonal antibodies from its library of fully-human mAbs that are able to neutralise zoonotic coronaviruses, to identify mAbs that may have the potential to treat and prevent COVID-2019 infections ^[11] .