HHS funds study of influenza drug

HHS has advanced the development of an influenza drug that could be effective in high-risk patients, according to a press release.

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), an agency within HHS, will fund the advancement of VIS401, a monoclonal antibody therapeutic drug.

ASPR’s Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) will oversee the project and has entered into an agreement with Visterra Inc., the developers of VIS410. The agreement states that Visterra Inc. will "conduct clinical studies of safety and efficacy of VIS410, manufacture materials for use in clinical studies, and optimize manufacturing processes," for $29.1 million over 40 months, as detailed in the release.

“Having multiple antiviral treatment options available for influenza is essential to saving lives in a pandemic and every day,” Robin Robinson, PhD, director of BARDA, said in the release. “Developing antiviral drugs that work against many strains of influenza provides a cost-efficient way to boost pandemic preparedness and at the same time potentially alleviate the suffering of hundreds of thousands of people who are hospitalized with influenza every year.”

According to the release, preclinical studies have demonstrated VIS410 may be more effective than current influenza drugs and safe for high-risk patients, such as children, older patients or those with heart disease.

The contract has the potential to be extended up to 5 years and $204.5 million. Visterra Inc. would conduct larger clinical studies, including the efficacy in hospitalized and severely ill patients, if the contract was extended.