October 22, 2020 – Roche (Basel, Switzerland) and Atea Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced they are partnering in the fight against COVID-19 to develop, manufacture and distribute AT-527, Atea’s investigational oral direct-acting antiviral, to people around the globe.
The company says the medication has the potential to be the first oral treatment option for COVID-19 patients who are not hospitalized. Additionally, the company says that the manufacturing process for small-molecule DAAs allows the ability to produce large quantities of a much needed treatment.
AT-527 acts by blocking the viral RNA polymerase enzyme needed for viral replication, and is currently being studied in a Phase 2 clinical trial for hospitalized patients with moderate COVID-19.
A Phase 3 clinical trial, expected to start in Q1 2021, will explore the potential use in patients outside of the hospital setting. In addition, AT-527 may be developed for post-exposure prophylactic settings.
If AT-527 proves safe and effective in clinical trials and regulatory approvals are granted, Atea will be responsible for distributing this treatment option in the U.S, with the option to request Genentech’s support, and Roche will be responsible for distribution outside the U.S.