Invivyd Announces New England Journal of Medicine Publishes Letter to the Editor Highlighting Immunobridging Pathway Leading to PEMGARDA™ (pemivibart) Emergency Use Authorization; Comments on Adjacent Third-Party Letter to the Editor

Rhea-AI Summary

The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) published a Letter to the Editor describing PEMGARDA™ (pemivibart)'s immunobridging emergency use authorization pathway and an updated correlate of protection curve for COVID-19 prevention. The letter highlights the FDA-designed approach for rapid development of monoclonal antibodies against evolving COVID-19 variants. Invivyd expressed disappointment regarding a separate NEJM letter from Columbia University's Ho Lab containing discordant data about pemivibart's effectiveness against KP.3.1.1 variant. The FDA maintains that PEMGARDA likely retains adequate neutralization activity against current U.S. SARS-CoV-2 variants, including KP.3.1.1, LB.1, KP.3, and KP.2.

Positive

• FDA maintains PEMGARDA's effectiveness against current major COVID-19 variants
• CANOPY trial showed robust reduction in symptomatic COVID-19 risk compared to placebo
• Publication in prestigious NEJM validates immunobridging authorization pathway

Negative

• Conflicting third-party data questions effectiveness against certain variants
• Potential reputation damage from competing laboratory's contradictory findings

Insights

Medical Research Analyst

The publication of PEMGARDA's immunobridging pathway in NEJM represents a significant development in COVID-19 therapeutics. The FDA-designed approach allows for rapid development and authorization of novel monoclonal antibodies, particularly important given the evolving variant landscape. The updated correlate of protection (CoP) curve demonstrates protection at lower titers than clinically tested, aligning with CANOPY trial data.

The controversy surrounding the Ho Lab's "research-grade" data versus FDA-validated Monogram data is noteworthy. The FDA's decision to maintain PEMGARDA's authorization and update the Fact Sheet with Monogram data showing activity against current variants (KP.3.1.1, LB.1, KP.3 and KP.2) supports the drug's continued efficacy. The 75% coverage of currently circulating variants suggests meaningful clinical potential.

The development of VYD2311 with a focus on low-dose, patient-friendly administration could represent a significant advancement in COVID-19 protection strategies.

Market Research Analyst

This development has significant market implications for IVVD. The NEJM publication validates their immunobridging approach and strengthens PEMGARDA's market position. The controversy with Ho Lab's data, while potentially concerning for market perception, is offset by FDA's continued support and validation through Monogram's independent testing.

For a company with a market cap of $114.8M, the successful development pathway and positive CANOPY trial data could drive value creation. The planned development of VYD2311 with improved administration features could expand market opportunities and competitive positioning. The focus on scalable, patient-friendly profiles addresses key commercial considerations in the COVID-19 therapeutic space.

• The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) Letter to the Editor outlines the novel, rapid immunobridging authorization pathway for PEMGARDA and provides an updated correlate of protection curve for monoclonal antibody protection from symptomatic COVID-19
• The updated correlate of protection analysis published in the Letter to the Editor indicates the potential for strong protection from symptomatic COVID-19 at titer levels well below doses explored clinically with pemivibart, consistent with recently disclosed CANOPY exploratory efficacy data, and useful for future drug development
• Company expresses disappointment in NEJM’s publication of a separate Letter to the Editor from a third-party, academic laboratory reflecting outdated, inaccurate virology data produced with “research-grade” “pemivibart”
• PEMGARDA™ (pemivibart) Fact Sheet continues to include accurate data reflecting neutralization activity against KP.3.1.1

WALTHAM, Mass., Nov. 14, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Invivyd, Inc. (Nasdaq: IVVD), a biopharmaceutical company devoted to delivering protection from serious viral infectious diseases, today announces that The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) has published a peer-reviewed Letter to the Editor describing the PEMGARDA™ (pemivibart) immunobridging emergency use authorization (EUA) pathway, as well as an updated correlate of protection (CoP) curve for prevention of symptomatic COVID-19 via recombinant monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) such as pemivibart.

The immunobridging approach highlighted in NEJM draws on pharmacokinetic bioequivalence principles and was designed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to allow rapid development and authorization of serial, novel mAbs that can protect vulnerable populations from symptomatic COVID-19 amid a rapidly evolving variant landscape. The immunobridging approach established by the FDA for pemivibart development relied on a comparison between the serum virus neutralizing antibody (sVNA) titers of a novel antibody, pemivibart, and the sVNA titer associated with previous clinical protection at a single point in time from a single prototype mAb, in this case, Invivyd’s prior investigational mAb, adintrevimab.

The updated CoP data curve for mAbs also published in the NEJM letter as Figure 1B builds on prior published work¹ and provides a meta-analytic continuous curve describing the quantitative relationship between sVNA titers and clinical protection from symptomatic COVID-19 across multiple mAbs. Such a continuous curve depicts human immunobiology better than binary point estimate immunobridging analysis and resembles the analyses deployed to understand the clinical protection possible from COVID-19 vaccination. This curve in Figure 1B has not been updated to reflect, but generally comports well with, the positive exploratory clinical efficacy data from Invivyd’s CANOPY Phase 3 registrational clinical trial. Inclusive of the emerging CANOPY exploratory clinical efficacy data, the CoP relationship for mAbs against symptomatic COVID-19 now spans years of virus evolution, dozens of variants of concern, and vast quantities of viral variation, unlocking the potential of such an analysis to rapidly develop mAbs that can protect against symptomatic COVID-19 without requiring excess dose to address the clinical uncertainty of viral variation. Invivyd intends to leverage these data in development of next-generation molecule VYD2311, targeting a low dose, intramuscular or subcutaneous scalable, system- and patient-friendly profile that can confer strong protection with attractive safety.

“We are pleased that the immunobridging pathway leading to PEMGARDA authorization has been published in one of the highest impact medical journals in clinical medicine, the New England Journal of Medicine,” said Mark Wingertzahn, Ph.D., Senior Vice President of Clinical Development and Medical Affairs. “This approach, borrowed from vaccine development, can provide clinicians and regulators alike with a useful framework for mAbs as we innovate toward rational, scalable, high efficacy medicines that can protect vulnerable populations against COVID-19.”

Dr. Wingertzahn continued, “While we are gratified by the publication of Invivyd’s Letter to the Editor, we are disappointed by today’s publication by NEJM of a separate Letter to the Editor from the Columbia University Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Laboratory / Dr. David D. Ho (Ho Lab) that describes neutralization data of “research-grade” “pemivibart” synthesized at Columbia against KP.3.1.1 (Ho Letter). The data contained in the Ho Letter are highly discordant from the information contained in the FDA-authored PEMGARDA Fact Sheet and can cause confusion for healthcare professionals and their patients who may benefit from PEMGARDA.” The Ho Letter rebroadcasted outdated and inaccurate “research grade” “pemivibart” data that first appeared in the public domain in August 2024 via a preprint posted to BioRxiv (Ho Preprint). These data contend that JN.1 sublineages, notably KP.3.1.1, display substantially reduced susceptibility in vitro to an antibody made in the Ho Lab referred to as “pemivibart.”

A series of events that occurred in the summer of 2024 spark questions about data reflected in the Ho Preprint and Letter. On July 30, 2024, Dr. Ho communicated to Invivyd that he had “an optimized mAb that neutralizes all SARS-CoV-2 with great potency,” bringing to light a conflict of interest. Moreover, on August 13, 2024, an author of the Ho Preprint emailed Invivyd requesting authentic pemivibart so they could perform a side-by-side comparison of the neutralization activities of authentic pemivibart against their version of “pemivibart.” To date, Invivyd has declined requests to share authentic pemivibart with the Ho Lab.

Under protest from Invivyd, reference to the Ho Preprint was added to the PEMGARDA™ Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers (Fact Sheet) in August 2024. Importantly, upon receipt of the validated pemivibart KP.3.1.1 neutralization data from Labcorp-Monogram Biosciences (Monogram) in September 2024, the FDA removed such references from the PEMGARDA Fact Sheet, added the Monogram data supporting the ongoing potential benefit of PEMGARDA (pemivibart) in the authorized population, and stated that PEMGARDA likely retains adequate neutralization activity against circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants in the U.S. including KP.3.1.1, LB.1, KP.3, and KP.2, which comprise more than 75% of currently circulating variants. The PEMGARDA Fact Sheet continues to accurately reflect the neutralization activity of PEMGARDA (pemivibart) against KP.3.1.1.

The totality of the data, including Invivyd-generated assay data, data generated at a third-party, independent, industrial-grade laboratory, and the previously reported CANOPY trial exploratory clinical efficacy data showing robust reduction of risk of symptomatic COVID-19 compared to placebo observed during a U.S. COVID-19 wave dominated by KP.3 and KP.3.1.1 variants, all favor the validity of the ongoing virology work Invivyd has routinely provided to regulators that underlines the potential clinical benefits of PEMGARDA, as authorized. Importantly, with all this data in hand, the FDA continues to assert in the current PEMGARDA Fact Sheet that based upon the totality of scientific evidence available it is reasonable to believe that PEMGARDA may be effective for pre-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19 caused by susceptible SARS-CoV-2 variants in the authorized population.   As a reminder, Invivyd recently disclosed a proprietary method for interrogating the structural biology of pemivibart activity against emerging virus variants that predicts continued activity against XEC, with formal assay testing at Monogram pending.

About Invivyd
Invivyd, Inc. (Nasdaq: IVVD) is a biopharmaceutical company devoted to delivering protection from serious viral infectious diseases, beginning with SARS-CoV-2. The company’s proprietary INVYMAB™ platform approach combines state-of-the-art viral surveillance and predictive modeling with advanced antibody engineering. INVYMAB is designed to facilitate the rapid, serial generation of new monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to address evolving viral threats. In March 2024, Invivyd received emergency use authorization (EUA) from the U.S. FDA for its first mAb in a planned series of innovative antibody candidates. Visit https://invivyd.com/ to learn more.

About PEMGARDA
PEMGARDA™ (pemivibart) is a half-life extended investigational monoclonal antibody (mAb). PEMGARDA was engineered from adintrevimab, Invivyd’s investigational mAb that has a robust safety data package and provided evidence of clinical efficacy in a global Phase 2/3 clinical trial for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. PEMGARDA has demonstrated in vitro neutralizing activity against major SARS-CoV-2 variants, including JN.1, KP.3, KP.3.1.1 and LB.1. PEMGARDA targets the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor binding domain (RBD), thereby inhibiting virus attachment to the human ACE2 receptor on host cells.

PEMGARDA (pemivibart) injection (4500 mg), for intravenous use is an investigational mAb that has not been approved, but has been authorized for emergency use by the U.S. FDA under an EUA for the pre-exposure prophylaxis (prevention) of COVID-19 in adults and adolescents (12 years of age and older weighing at least 40 kg) who have moderate-to-severe immune compromise due to certain medical conditions or receipt of certain immunosuppressive medications or treatments and are unlikely to mount an adequate immune response to COVID-19 vaccination. Recipients should not be currently infected with or have had a known recent exposure to an individual infected with SARS-CoV-2.

PEMGARDA is not authorized for use for treatment of COVID-19 or post-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19. Pre-exposure prophylaxis with PEMGARDA is not a substitute for vaccination in individuals for whom COVID-19 vaccination is recommended. Individuals for whom COVID-19 vaccination is recommended, including individuals with moderate-to-severe immune compromise who may derive benefit from COVID-19 vaccinations, should receive COVID-19 vaccination. In individuals who have recently received a COVID-19 vaccine, PEMGARDA should be administered at least 2 weeks after vaccination.

Anaphylaxis has been observed with PEMGARDA and the PEMGARDA Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers includes a boxed warning for anaphylaxis. The most common adverse events (all grades, incidence ≥2%) observed in participants who have moderate-to-severe immune compromise treated with PEMGARDA included systemic and local infusion-related or hypersensitivity reactions, upper respiratory tract infection, viral infection, influenza-like illness, fatigue, headache, and nausea. For additional information, please see the PEMGARDA full product Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers, including important safety information and boxed warning.

To support the EUA for PEMGARDA, an immunobridging approach was used to determine if PEMGARDA may be effective for pre-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19. Immunobridging is based on the serum virus neutralizing titer-efficacy relationships identified with other neutralizing human mAbs against SARS-CoV-2. This includes adintrevimab, the parent mAb of pemivibart, and other mAbs that were previously authorized for EUA. There are limitations of the data supporting the benefits of PEMGARDA. Evidence of clinical efficacy for other neutralizing human mAbs against SARS-CoV-2 was based on different populations and SARS-CoV-2 variants that are no longer circulating. Further, the variability associated with cell-based EC50 value determinations, along with limitations related to pharmacokinetic data and efficacy estimates for the mAbs in prior clinical trials, impact the ability to precisely estimate protective titer ranges. Additionally, certain SARS-CoV-2 viral variants may emerge that have substantially reduced susceptibility to PEMGARDA, and PEMGARDA may not be effective at preventing COVID-19 caused by these SARS-CoV-2 viral variants.

The emergency use of PEMGARDA is only authorized for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of the emergency use of drugs and biological products during the COVID-19 pandemic under Section 564(b)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. § 360bbb-3(b)(1), unless the declaration is terminated or authorization revoked sooner. PEMGARDA is authorized for use only when the combined national frequency of variants with substantially reduced susceptibility to PEMGARDA is less than or equal to 90%, based on available information including variant susceptibility to PEMGARDA and national variant frequencies.

About CANOPY 
The ongoing CANOPY Phase 3 clinical trial is designed to evaluate the safety and tolerability of pemivibart and to assess immunobridging from pemivibart to certain historical data from the company’s previous Phase 2/3 clinical trial of adintrevimab (ADG20) for the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19 (EVADE). Additionally, there are pre-specified exploratory endpoints through three, six and twelve months to evaluate clinical efficacy of pemivibart compared to placebo in the prevention of RT-PCR-confirmed symptomatic COVID-19. The latest analysis from the Phase 3 CANOPY clinical trial includes 365-day data. The CANOPY clinical trial enrolled participants in two cohorts: Cohort A is a single-arm, open-label trial in adults who have moderate-to-severe immune compromise including complex underlying medical conditions. Cohort B is a randomized, placebo-controlled cohort that enrolled adults without moderate-to-severe immune compromise who are at risk of acquiring COVID-19 due to regular unmasked face-to-face interactions in indoor settings. 

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “could,” “expects,” “estimates,” “intends,” “potential,” “predicts,” “projects,” and “future” or similar expressions (as well as other words or expressions referencing future events, conditions or circumstances) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning, among other things, the company’s ongoing research and clinical development activities, as well as future potential research and clinical development efforts; the potential implications of a correlate of protection curve for COVID-19 mAb development, and the company’s intention to leverage these data in the development of VYD2311, targeting a low dose, intramuscular or subcutaneous scalable, system- and patient-friendly profile that can confer strong protection with attractive safety; the potential of an immunobridging approach to provide clinicians and regulators a useful framework as the company innovates toward rational, scalable, high efficacy medicines that can protect vulnerable populations against COVID-19; the potential for strong protection from symptomatic COVID-19 at titer levels well below doses explored clinically with pemivibart; expectations regarding the neutralization activity of pemivibart against SARS-CoV-2 variants, including XEC; the potential of PEMGARDA as a mAb for pre-exposure prophylaxis (prevention) of COVID-19 in certain adults and adolescents who have moderate-to-severe immune compromise; the company’s devotion to delivering protection from serious viral infectious diseases, beginning with SARS-CoV-2; the design of the company’s INVYMAB platform approach to facilitate the rapid, serial generation of new mAbs to address evolving viral threats; the company’s plans for a series of innovative antibody candidates; and other statements that are not historical fact. The company may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in the company’s forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on the company’s forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause the company’s actual results to differ materially from the results described in or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: the timing, progress and results of the company’s discovery, preclinical and clinical development activities; the risk that results of nonclinical studies or clinical trials may not be predictive of future results, and interim data are subject to further analysis; unexpected safety or efficacy data observed during preclinical studies or clinical trials; the predictability of clinical success of the company’s product candidates based on neutralizing activity in nonclinical studies; potential variability in neutralizing activity of product candidates tested in different assays, such as pseudovirus assays and authentic assays; the company’s reliance on third parties with respect to virus assay creation and product candidate testing and with respect to its clinical trials; variability of results in models and methods used to predict activity against SARS-CoV-2 variants; formal assay assessment results in comparison to predictions made using Invivyd’s molecular panel approach with respect to neutralization activity of pemivibart; whether pemivibart, VYD2311 or any other product candidate is able to demonstrate and sustain neutralizing activity against major SARS-CoV-2 variants, particularly in the face of viral evolution; how long the EUA granted by the FDA for PEMGARDA will remain in effect and whether the EUA is revised or revoked by the FDA; the potential negative impacts on Invivyd’s business of any virologic activity data in the public domain that creates doubt regarding the neutralization activity of pemivibart or any other of Invivyd’s product candidates that is generated by academic or other third-party labs and not as part of Invivyd’s ongoing industrial-grade virology efforts; uncertainties related to the regulatory authorization or approval process, and available development and regulatory pathways for authorization or approval of the company’s product candidates; the ability to maintain a continued acceptable safety, tolerability and efficacy profile of any product candidate following regulatory authorization or approval; changes in the regulatory environment; changes in expected or existing competition; the complexities of manufacturing mAb therapies; the company’s ability to leverage its INVYMAB platform approach to facilitate the rapid, serial generation of new mAbs to address evolving viral threats; any legal proceedings or investigations relating to the company; the company’s ability to continue as a going concern; and whether the company has adequate funding to meet future operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements. Other factors that may cause the company’s actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements in this press release are described under the heading “Risk Factors” in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and the company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, each filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and in the company’s other filings with the SEC, and in its future reports to be filed with the SEC and available at www.sec.gov. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of this date, and Invivyd undertakes no duty to update such information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable law.

This press release contains hyperlinks to information that is not deemed to be incorporated by reference in this press release.

Contacts:
Media Relations
(781) 208-1747
media@invivyd.com

Investor Relations
(781) 208-1747
investors@invivyd.com

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¹Stadler E, et al. Monoclonal antibody levels and protection from COVID-19. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4545. Follmann, et al. Examining protective effects of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies after vaccination or monoclonal antibody administration. Nat Commun 2023; 14: 3605. Schmidt, et al. Antibody-mediated protection against symptomatic COVID-19 can be achieved at low serum neutralizing titers. Sci Transl Med 2023; 15(688): eadg2783.  

FAQ

What did the NEJM Letter to Editor reveal about PEMGARDA (IVVD)?

The NEJM Letter described PEMGARDA's immunobridging emergency use authorization pathway and presented an updated correlate of protection curve for COVID-19 prevention using monoclonal antibodies.

Which COVID-19 variants is PEMGARDA (IVVD) effective against?

According to the FDA, PEMGARDA likely retains adequate neutralization activity against current U.S. variants including KP.3.1.1, LB.1, KP.3, and KP.2, which comprise over 75% of circulating variants.

What was the controversy regarding Ho Lab's findings about PEMGARDA (IVVD)?

Ho Lab published data suggesting reduced effectiveness of 'research-grade' pemivibart against JN.1 sublineages, particularly KP.3.1.1, which contradicted Invivyd's official data and FDA assessments.