ZURICH (Reuters) – Swiss pharmaceutical group Novartis on Monday announced it will acquire the rights to develop and commercialize a new COVID-19 drug, initially developed by compatriot Molecular Partners, following results positive results from a clinical trial.
Novartis will pay 150 million Swiss francs (143.78 million euros) to obtain a license on ensovibep from Molecular Partners, in order to speed up production and obtain marketing authorizations for this drug more quickly.
The two groups had already started a collaboration on ensovibep which had been the subject of an initial payment of 60 million Swiss francs from Novartis to Molecular Partners.
“With the decision taken to exercise the option [de licence], Novartis will be responsible for the development, manufacturing, distribution and marketing activities of ensovibep, ”the group said in a statement.
The move comes after Novartis and Molecular Partners said they recorded positive results for a phase II study of ensovibep, an antiviral treatment for COVID-19.
“Ensovibep continues to maintain strong multi-variant activity in vitro against all variants of concern identified to date, including Omicron,” Novartis said.
The group intends to first apply for marketing authorization in the United States by requesting emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
(Report Silke Koltrowitz; French version Dagmarah Mackos, edited by Blandine Hénault)
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