HHS announced Tuesday that it is working with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals to develop treatments for the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). The move expands an existing collaboration between the two parties.
HHS announced Tuesday that it is working with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals to develop treatments for the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). The move expands an existing collaboration between the two parties. “Emerging infectious diseases can present serious threats to our nation’s health security,” said Rick Bright, PhD, deputy assistant secretary for preparedness and response and director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) at HHS’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response. “Working as public-private partners like we have with Regeneron since 2014, we can move rapidly to respond to new global health threats.” BARDA and Regeneron will leverage their partnership agreement to develop several monoclonal antibodies that could be used to treat 2019-nCoV. Products developed for 2019-nCoV through the expanded partnership will leverage Regeneron’s monoclonal antibody discovery platform called VelocImmune. The platform is part of the company’s VelociSuite technology, which was used to develop a promising investigational three-antibody therapeutic that was used to treat Ebola in the most recent outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and an investigational two-antibody therapeutic to treat Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus. BARDA noted it is also working with counterparts across the government, including within HHS and with the Department of Defense.
Source: Pharmacist
