China-based WuXi Biologics (HKG: 2269), a leading Contract Research, Development, and Manufacturing Organization (CRDMO), announced a strategic partnership with UK pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca for the local manufacturing of Evusheld (tixagevimab, cilgavimab), a COVID-19 prophylactic neutralizing antibody combination. Financial details of the partnership were not disclosed.
Drug Approvals
Evusheld received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) in the US in late 2021 and subsequently gained conditional market approvals in the European Union (EU) and the UK earlier this year. The drug was conditionally approved in Hong Kong in May 2022 and entered the Bo’ao Lecheng Medical Tourism Pilot Zone in June 2022 via a special import review process for use as a pre-exposure prophylaxis against COVID-19.
WuXi Biologics’ Role
During the COVID-19 pandemic, WuXi Biologics has supported 29 Investigational New Drug (IND) approvals for over 20 COVID-19 neutralizing antibodies globally, producing more than 2,000 kilograms of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs).-Fineline Info & Tech
