More than just a brand name change though, the biotech is adding a new Covid-19 drug candidate and looking for a refreshed start after a tumultuous stretch in Covid-19 drug development. Along with the new Invivyd name, it announced on Monday a new antibody cocktail candidate for Covid prevention and treatment with studies set to begin in Q1 2023. The new NVD200 combines two monoclonal antibodies aimed at Omicron variants, and adds to the company’s efforts on its late-stage Covid candidate adintrevimab which was coasting along on a raft of positive data before Omicron emerged. “We are just finishing a summer that started with changes to firm leadership, and which continued recent evolution to our strategy for tackling disease with our discovery platform,” recently named CEO David Hering said in an email interview when asked about the timing of the name change.
He agreed that “no doubt” along with leadership changes, the new identity “is helpful in reminding a lot of stakeholders that they might consider taking a fresh look alongside us.”
Adagio was founded in the early days of the pandemic by renowned antibody expert Tillman Gerngross, and the fledgling company quickly raised $750 million in a bid to develop a pan-coronavirus antibody. However, it hit a major bump when Omicron emerged and its own up-until-then positive data showed its lead candidate adintrevimab would have a vastly reduced effectiveness against the now-dominant variant.
Adagiooss left the company in February under a cryptic SEC filing explanation that he “agreed in principle to resign.” Hering, who was chief operating officer, took over as interim CEO before being made official in March.Omicronadintrevimab After raising more than $750M in quick Covid cash, Tillman Gerngross is on his way out of troubled Adagio
Yet even with its new name and evolved vision, Invivyd isn’t giving up on FDA authorization of the Adagioadintrevimab. “Given the broadly neutralizing attributes of aInvivydimab, Invivyd’s moniFDAing and assessment of potentadintrevimabmutations suggest that a future variant may arise for which adintrevimab could provide protection,” the biotech reports on its pipeline web page. “Adintrevimab is ready for regulatory review aadintrevimabl readiness activities are underway,” Invivyd it adding, noting the biotech has 700,000 doses that could be distributedadintrevimab60 days after authorization. OAdintrevimabtibodies in the new NVD200 cocktail combo, in fact, is a re-engineered version of adintrevimab, Invivyd said in its press release. Adagio previously headed Pfizer’s FDAA global business and led the team tOmicronnched its Covid-19 vaccine in the US. He described the evolved Invivyd moving beyond Covid drug development to include other viral diseases such as influenza and specifically H1 and H3 strains. Invivyd’s “engineered antibodies have potential to provide broader, more lasting protection than natural immunity,” he said. The brand name Invivyd noPfizera range of words relevant to the company such as “infectiouCovid-19e, viral, infinity, innovation, vitality, inquisitive, inviting, viCovidnd clarity,” as well as Covid, Heriviral diseasesLinkedIn influenzaonday. It also represents an evolution from the Adagio name and its original methodical approach to developing a solution to help fight the Covid pandemic.Covid “Today is a new day. As a company that has evolved and grown in knowledge and expertise, we now need a name that better reflects our Covid pandemics, culture, vision, and mission to overcome the natural limitations of the human immune system,” he said. “… Just like the virus continues to evolve, so does our company, and our hyperfocus on viral infections and deep scientific experience aims to help lead the return to normal.”