Pharma BD Deal Intelligence
A $595M co-development deal that turned into a genuine COVID-era win: GSK and Vir's antibody collaboration delivered sotrovimab, an authorized COVID-19 treatment, though the partnership's push into influenza therapeutics has yet to produce a marketed follow-on.
GlaxoSmithKline and Vir aim to take on Covid-19 with monoclonal antibodies and CRISPR screening technology against SARS-CoV-2
GlaxoSmithKline doubles down on Vir pact throwing $345M upfront to expand collaboration beyond COVID-19 into influenza and respiratory viruses
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GSK and Vir Biotechnology partnered to co-develop monoclonal antibodies for coronaviruses, leading to sotrovimab for COVID-19 and later expanding to influenza therapeutics.
VIR-7832 is a next-generation Fc-engineered anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike mAb with enhanced effector function (T cell vaccinal activity), developed alongside sotrovimab under the GSK/Vir collaboration. Competitive landscape segmented by MOA class. Anti-spike mAbs (direct competitor class): Regeneron's REGEN-COV (casirivimab/imdevimab), Lilly's bamlanivimab/etesevimab and bebtelovimab, GSK/Vir's sotrovimab (Xevudy), and AstraZeneca's Evusheld (tixagevimab/cilgavimab) all received EUAs that were progressively revoked or restricted by FDA through 2022-2023 as Omicron subvariants (BA.2, BA.4/5, XBB, JN.1) eroded neutralization. AstraZeneca's pemivibart (Pemgarda) received EUA in March 2024 specifically for immunocompromised pre-exposure prophylaxis, the only remaining active anti-spike mAb in the US. Oral small-molecule antivirals: Pfizer's Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir/ritonavir) dominates outpatient treatment (~$1.2B 2024 net sales per Pfizer 10-K) and Merck's Lagevrio (molnupiravir) serves secondary patients. IV antivirals: Gilead's Veklury (remdesivir, ~$1.5B 2024 sales) covers hospitalized patients. Commercial threat sizing for VIR-7832: the mAb category has structurally collapsed; only pemivibart persists in an immunocompromised niche. VIR-7832 development was effectively discontinued in 2022 after ACTIV-3 read out. Residual mAb commercial opportunity requires variant-matched rapid-design platforms and is contingent on pandemic-scale variant emergence.
Sotrovimab (VIR-7831/Xevudy) is an Fc-engineered anti-spike mAb targeting a conserved RBD epitope; the competitive set spans three MOA classes. Anti-spike mAbs (direct class): Regeneron's REGEN-COV (casirivimab/imdevimab), Lilly's bamlanivimab/etesevimab and bebtelovimab, and AstraZeneca's Evusheld (tixagevimab/cilgavimab, prevention) all received EUAs that were sequentially revoked or de-authorized by FDA between 2022 and 2023 as BA.2, BA.4/5, and XBB subvariants eroded neutralization; sotrovimab's EUA was limited in April 2022 for BA.2-prevalent regions. Oral small-molecule antivirals: Pfizer's Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir/ritonavir) captured the dominant outpatient share with ~$18.9B 2022 net sales per Pfizer 10-K, declining to ~$1.2B by 2024; Merck's Lagevrio (molnupiravir) remains the oral backup for Paxlovid-contraindicated patients. IV antivirals: Gilead's Veklury (remdesivir) holds the hospitalized-patient niche with ~$3.9B 2022 revenue. Commercial threat sizing: sotrovimab peaked at ~$1.7B in 2022 GSK revenue then collapsed as mAb neutralization failed against Omicron subvariants and Paxlovid became the outpatient standard of care. Residual demand exists in select ex-US markets and immunocompromised cohorts, but the mAb category has structurally eroded.
GlaxoSmithKline plc completed its acquisition of Vir Biotechnology Inc. for $595M. GSK and Vir Biotechnology partnered to co-develop monoclonal antibodies for coronaviruses, leading to sotrovimab for COVID-19 and later expanding to influenza therapeutics.
FDA revoked sotrovimab EUA nationally on Apr 5, 2022 as Omicron BA.2 became dominant and in vitro data showed loss of activity. Core COVID asset from GSK-Vir collaboration commercially sidelined.
Vir retained sole rights to next-gen COVID programs. GSK exited R&D role. Sotrovimab EUA revoked Apr 2022.
Sotrovimab generated $2.8B (2022). But US EUA revoked. Flu collaboration also terminated. Deal served its purpose.
| Deal | Year | Value | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| GlaxoSmithKline plc / Vir Biotechnology Inc. (this deal) | 2020 | $595M | 51 |
| GlaxoSmithKline plc / Theravance, Inc. | 2012 | $213M | 82 |
| GlaxoSmithKline plc / Tesaro Inc. | 2018 | $5.1B | 79 |
| GlaxoSmithKline plc / Pfizer Inc. (Consumer Healthcare Division) | 2018 | $12.7B | 76 |
| GlaxoSmithKline plc / Novartis Consumer Healthcare JV | 2018 | $13.0B | 74 |
| GlaxoSmithKline plc / ID Biomedical Corporation | 2005 | $1.4B | 64 |
| GlaxoSmithKline plc / Reliant Pharmaceuticals Inc. | 2007 | $1.6B | 47 |
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