Generation Bio and Vir Biotechnology to Collaborate on Research to Leverage Scalable Non-Viral Gene Therapy Platform for Durable Production of Monoclonal Antibodies Against Coronavirus That Causes COVID-19
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The companies believe that this technology, coupled with Vir’s potent neutralizing antibodies, has the potential to provide effective, long-lasting protection against SARS-CoV-2. Vir’s leading antibody was isolated from a SARS-CoV-1 recovered patient and potently neutralizes SARS-CoV-2. Vir believes that this approach can potentially provide broad and longer-lasting protection.
“Together, we believe we can develop long-lasting therapies suitable for population-wide prevention and treatment,” said Generation Bio President and CEO
Generation Bio’s proprietary non-viral gene therapy platform is designed to enable production of target proteins from a patient’s own cells. This approach may allow the patient to maintain stable levels of antibody expression for years, providing continuous protection against the target virus. In addition, the companies intend to leverage Generation Bio’s scalable manufacturing process to potentially extend the reach of Vir’s monoclonal antibodies to a greater number of patients.
“We are eager to bring our antibodies to patients as quickly as possible, and should they work, to make them available to as many patients as quickly as possible. We are excited to explore the potential of ceDNA in an infectious disease setting and our anti-SARS-CoV-2 program offers a way to do that,” said
About Generation Bio
Generation Bio is an innovative genetic medicines company focused on creating a new class of gene therapy to provide durable, redosable treatments for patients suffering from both rare and prevalent diseases. The company’s non-viral platform incorporates a proprietary high-capacity DNA construct called closed-ended DNA, or ceDNA; a novel cell-targeted lipid nanoparticle delivery system, or ctLNP; and an established, scalable capsid-free manufacturing process. The company is designing therapies to provide targeted delivery of genetic payloads that include large and multiple genes across a broad array of tissues, and to be redosable for individualized and extended treatment throughout a patient’s life. The platform is designed to expand access to treatments for rare diseases and to address prevalent diseases through efficient, scalable manufacturing.
About Vir’s Antibody Platform
Vir has a robust method for capitalizing on unusually successful immune responses naturally occurring in people who are protected from, or have recovered from, infectious diseases. The platform is used to identify rare antibodies from survivors that have the potential to treat and prevent rapidly evolving and/or previously untreatable pathogens via direct pathogen neutralization and immune system stimulation. Vir engineers the fully human antibodies that it discovers to enhance their therapeutic potential. This platform has been used to identify and develop antibodies for pathogens including Ebola (mAb114, currently in use in the
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Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “believe,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “explore,” “intend,” “potential” and similar expressions (as well as other words or expressions referencing future events, conditions or circumstances) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on Vir’s expectations and assumptions as of the date of this press release. Each of these forward-looking statements involves risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include statements regarding the potential benefits of Vir’s collaboration with Generation Bio, the ability of ceDNA to deliver and support the production of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, Vir’s efforts to identify potential therapies for SARS-CoV-2, and its ability to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Many factors may cause differences between current expectations and actual results including unexpected safety or efficacy data observed during preclinical or clinical studies, challenges in administering mAbs against SARS-CoV-2, difficulties in scaling the manufacturing process to extend the reach of Vir’s monoclonal antibodies, and challenges in accessing manufacturing capacity. Other factors that may cause actual results to differ from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements in this press release are discussed in Vir’s filings with the
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Generation Bio:
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Source: Generation Bio and