On Jan. 10, 2022, Novartis Molecular Partners announced that Part A of the EMPATHY clinical trial that compared single intravenous doses of ensovibep, a DARPin antiviral therapeutic candidate vs. placebo to treat COVID-19, met the primary endpoint of viral load reduction over eight days.

The two secondary endpoints also showed clinically meaningful benefit over placebo ﾖ 1) composite endpoint of hospitalization and/or Emergency Room (ER) visits or death, and 2) time to sustained clinical recovery. Novartis confirmed it would exercise its option to in-license ensovibep from Molecular Partners and, following exercise of the option, will seek expedited access globally, first via the FDAﾒs EUA process.