In a pharmaceutical laboratory (illustration). – M.Libert / 20 Minutes
The treatment is not yet finalized but the authorities want to be sure to receive it while funding the research. Nantes-based biotech Xenothera, created in 2014, announced on Tuesday that it had signed a pre-order contract with the French government for its developing treatment against Covid-19.
This reservation contract covers 30,000 doses of the drug candidate XAV-19, specifies the company. This treatment is an anti-SARS-CoV-2 polyclonal antibody developed by biotech on the basis of its glyco-humanized antibody technology, that is to say antibodies originally porcine, which have been modified. XAV-19 is intended for patients with moderate Covid-19, to avoid worsening of the disease and transfer to intensive care.
Anticipation of clinical trial results
This agreement allows Xenothera to immediately start industrial production of the first batches in anticipation of the results of the French Polycor clinical trial, expected this summer, explains the laboratory. The Polycor trial is part of 15 clinical studies that were labeled “national research priority” at the end of December by the National Steering Committee for Therapeutic Trials and Other Research on Covid-19 (Capnet).
“I am delighted with the favorable response from the Ministry of Health to our proposal to reserve the first productions of our treatment for French patients, which seemed logical to us given the support received from the start. This contract also shows that it is possible to undertake in France. The story is not over, it is now necessary to obtain the authorizations of ANSM, and we will continue to commit all our forces to fight against this virus ”, reacts Odile Duvaux, president of Xenothera.