GSK Ends Influenza Antibody Partnership with Vir

Vir Biotechnology and GSK have decided to discontinue a portion of their joint efforts focused on developing a flu treatment. This news surfaced during Vir's earnings announcement on Thursday.

Vir reported that GSK chose to terminate their collaboration aimed at researching, developing, and commercializing monoclonal antibodies intended for the prevention and treatment of the influenza virus. The original agreement, established in May 2021, will now see Vir retaining all rights to develop investigational flu therapies independently or potentially with other partners.

During an investor call, Vir's CEO Marianne De Backer mentioned that the company would hold the exclusive rights to these flu therapies and indicated plans to seek external partnerships to advance the treatments.

A significant setback in this collaboration occurred in July 2023, when Phase II trial data revealed that the flu vaccine candidate, VIR-2482, did not meet its primary and secondary endpoints. Specifically, patients at a 1,200mg dosage observed only a 16% reduction in influenza A-like illness compared to a placebo group, which did not reach statistical significance.

Vir’s CMO Phil Pang described the Phase II results as "disappointing" and noted that further analysis was needed to comprehend the outcomes fully. A comprehensive analysis of the data is expected to be published in a scientific journal in the second quarter.

Despite this setback, GSK and Vir continue to work together, with both companies exploring external partnerships for antibody-drug conjugates and next-generation antibodies for influenza A and B.

Previously, GSK and Vir had agreed to collaborate on coronavirus treatments but withdrew from the agreement last year. In 2021, GSK increased its equity investment by $120 million and made an upfront payment of $225 million to support influenza research and development.

VIR-2482, a monoclonal antibody, was in Phase I clinical trials when the partnership with GSK commenced.

Vir is not alone in its efforts to combat influenza. Moderna is working on several vaccine candidates, with mRNA-1010 showing some effectiveness against influenza A and less so against influenza B. Meanwhile, Pfizer is in the midst of a Phase III clinical trial for its influenza vaccine, which began in 2022.

The competitive landscape for flu treatment is intensifying as multiple biotech companies strive to develop effective vaccines and therapies to address the disease.