The HHS allotted $55 million to fund Vir Biotechnology's influenza drug and up to $1 billion to prevent future infectious disease threats.
Vir Biotechnology, a San Francisco-based, commercial-stage immunology company, is currently testing a prophylactic monoclonal antibody to protect against seasonal and pandemic influenza. Data from the candidate's phase 2 preexposure prophylaxis trial is expected to be released mid-2023, according to a company news release.
Vir also helped develop sotrovimab, a COVID-19 antibody treatment that recently got moved off the World Health Organization's list of recommended treatments because it is less effective against omicron and its subvariants.