GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has agreed to invest $250m in Vir Biotechnology for the research and development (R&D) of antibodies to treat Covid-19 infection.
The companies signed a binding agreement to work on treatments for coronaviruses, including the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus. As part of the alliance, Vir’s monoclonal antibody platform technology will expedite existing anti-viral antibodies, as well as discover those new, for Covid-19.
GSK will contribute via its functional genomics expertise. The partners intend to further leverage their respective CRISPR screening and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities to identify an anti-coronavirus candidate that could act on cellular host genes.