GlaxoSmithKline and Vir Biotechnology announced US government contracts totalling approximately US $1 billion to purchase sotrovimab, an investigational monoclonal antibody for the early treatment of Covid-19, which the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) in May 2021. GSK will supply these doses to the US government by December 17, 2021, enabling further expanded nationwide access to sotrovimab for patients.

In addition to the doses that will be supplied this year, the US government will have the option to purchase additional doses through March 2022.

Including the contracts announced today, GSK and Vir have received binding agreements for the sale of more than 750,000 doses of sotrovimab worldwide, with additional doses reserved through other agreements including the previously announced Joint Procurement Agreement with the European Commission.

Sotrovimab is an FDA EUA authorised investigational single-dose intravenous (IV) infusion SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibody. Under the EUA, sotrovimab can be used for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults and paediatric patients (12 years of age and older weighing at least 40 kg) with positive test results for Covid-19, and who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalisation or death.

Dr Hal Barron, Chief Scientific Officer and President R&D, GSK, said: “Given the large number of patients who continue to become ill with Covid-19 across many regions in the US, there is an ongoing need for access to effective treatments. We are proud to work with the US government to help make sotrovimab available for these patients.”