On Oct. 22, 2020, Roche and Atea Pharmaceuticals announced they had joined forces in the fight against COVID-19 to develop, manufacture and distribute AT-527, Ateaﾒs investigational oral direct-acting antiviral, to people around the globe.

AT-527 acts by blocking the viral RNA polymerase enzyme needed for viral replication, and is currently being studied in a Phase 2 clinical trial for hospitalised patients with moderate COVID-19. A Phase 3 clinical trial, expected to start in Q1 2021, was planned to explore the potential use in patients outside of the hospital setting. In addition, AT-527 may be developed for post-exposure prophylactic settings.