New COVID Drug From Novartis and Molecular Partners

In the mountain climb to best COVID-19, Novartis and team member Molecular Partners are reaching new heights. After getting positive trial data, Novartis said it would in-license a new drug it is developing with Molecular Partners to treat COVID-19. The drug, called ensovibep, is an antiviral medicine designed specifically to inactivate SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, with extremely high potency and no known off-target effects. It offers a differentiated approach to treating the disease through a single molecule that can engage up to three parts of the virus simultaneously to neutralize it through multiple mechanisms, reducing the potential for viral drug resistance. "These encouraging results come at a time when the need for therapies with pan-variant activity, such as ensovibep, has never been greater," said Patrick Amstutz, CEO of Molecular Partners. Novartis will seek Emergency Use approval from the FDA. The treatment also has the potential to treat various cancers, and the companies have agreed to develop, manufacture, and commercialize therapies using it to treat that disease. Molecular Partners shares were up about 43.5%, and Novartis stock was up about half a percent in early hours Monday.