“Treatment of active COVID-19 infection, which presents a substantial risk to immunocompromised patients, is a medical context well suited for an infused antibody therapy, as prior COVID-19 treatment mAbs were generally provided via intravenous (IV) infusion to enhance the speed at which antiviral titers are delivered to patients in need,” said Mark Wingertzahn, SVP of Clinical Development and Medical Affairs. “We are moving with considerable urgency as we believe that immunobridging provides us with a more rapid and efficient pathway to deliver an important COVID-19 treatment option, complementing our efforts with PrEP.”
Observational studies have demonstrated that people who are immunocompromised continue to be disproportionally impacted by COVID-19-related hospitalizations and death.2-3 In addition to small molecule treatment options, where appropriate a monoclonal antibody may be a highly attractive option to alter the course of established infection.
“It’s important to remember that SARS-CoV-2 still poses a major threat to many people, such as those who are significantly immunocompromised and at higher risk for severe outcomes if they develop a COVID-19 infection,” said Brian Koffman, MDCM (retired), MS Ed, Co-Founder, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of the CLL (Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia) Society. “For people who develop a COVID-19 infection, today’s treatment options are not always adequate or clinically appropriate, especially for those who are immunocompromised and may be taking other drugs that are contraindicated for use with certain antivirals. For this vulnerable population, it would be extremely helpful to have a new monoclonal antibody as an option for treatment, a therapeutic approach that was shown during the earlier days of the pandemic to be highly effective against previous variants.”
Invivyd is maintaining its existing guidance of $150-$200 million in anticipated 2024 PEMGARDA net product revenue and year end cash guidance of at least $75 million in cash and cash equivalents, although the previously issued guidance was based on PEMGARDA being authorized for PrEP of COVID-19 in certain immunocompromised people and did not contemplate any potential sales for COVID-19 treatment or inventory build that may be required to deliver medicine timely to patients in need.
About PEMGARDA
PEMGARDA™ (pemivibart) is a half-life extended investigational monoclonal antibody (mAb). PEMGARDA was engineered from adintrevimab, Invivyd’s investigational mAb that has a robust safety data package and provided evidence of clinical efficacy in global Phase 2/3 clinical trials for both the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. PEMGARDA has demonstrated in vitro neutralizing activity in pseudotyped virus-like particle and authentic virus neutralization assays against major SARS-CoV-2 variants, including JN.1. PEMGARDA targets the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor binding domain (RBD), thereby inhibiting virus attachment to the human ACE2 receptor on host cells.
PEMGARDA (pemivibart) injection (4500 mg), for intravenous use is an investigational mAb that has not been approved, but has been authorized for emergency use by the U.S. FDA under an EUA for the pre-exposure prophylaxis (prevention) of COVID-19 in adults and adolescents (12 years of age and older weighing at least 40 kg) who have moderate-to-severe immune compromise due to certain medical conditions or receipt of certain immunosuppressive medications or treatments and are unlikely to mount an adequate immune response to COVID-19 vaccination. Recipients should not be currently infected with or have had a known recent exposure to an individual infected with SARS-CoV-2. PEMGARDA is not authorized for use for treatment of COVID-19 or post-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19. Anaphylaxis has been observed with PEMGARDA and the PEMGARDA Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers includes a boxed warning for anaphylaxis. The most common adverse events (all grades, incidence ≥2%) observed in participants who have moderate-to-severe immune compromise treated with PEMGARDA included systemic and local infusion-related or hypersensitivity reactions, upper respiratory tract infection, viral infection, influenza-like illness, fatigue, headache, and nausea. For additional information, please see the PEMGARDA full product Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers, including important safety information and boxed warning.