Roche and Atea Pharmaceuticals, Inc. have partnered to develop, manufacture and distribute AT-527, Atea’s investigational oral direct-acting antiviral, to treat COVID-19. AT-527 acts by blocking the viral RNA polymerase enzyme needed for viral replication, and is currently being studied in a Phase II trial for hospitalized patients with moderate COVID-19. A Phase III trial, expected to start in 1Q21, will explore the potential use in patients outside of the hospital setting. In addition, AT-527 ...