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Novartis AG and Molecular Partners AG on Monday reported positive topline data from their antiviral Covid-19 treatment ensovibep, and will seek expedited regulatory authorizations globally.
The results from a Phase 2 study of 407 patients receiving a single intravenous dose of ensovibep showed a 78% reduction in hospitalization or emergency-room visits related to Covid-19 compared with a placebo, and a improvement in time to a clinical recovery, Novartis said.
The ensovibep treatment continues to maintain protection against variants of concern identified so far, including Omicron, the Basel-based drugmaker said.
Novartis
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also said it will exercise its option and pay 150 million Swiss francs ($163.3 million) to in-license ensovibep from Molecular Partners
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and accelerate manufacturing scale-up.
It also plans to seek expedited regulatory authorizations globally, first via the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s emergency-use authorization.
If approved, ensovibep will be the first multispecific antiviral molecule for the treatment of Covid-19, Novartis said.
Write to Ed Frankl at edward.frankl@dowjones.com
