Roche in $350M deal with Sommadossi’s Atea for what it believes could be first oral COVID-19 antiviral

Roche has partnered with Jean-Pierre Sommadossi’s Atea to gain rights to what it believes could be the first oral antiviral to treat COVID-19 patients outside the hospital setting. The therapy is also in testing in hospitalized patients and may be evaluated as post-exposure prophylaxis.

Atea Pharmaceuticals Inc. will receive $350 million in cash up front from Roche (SIX:ROG; OTCQX:RHHBY) and is eligible for undisclosed milestone payments and royalties under the deal for AT-527, a direct-acting antiviral against SARS-CoV-2. ...