Ridgeback Biotherapeutics

Ridgeback Biotherapeutics is a Miami-based biotechnology company, primarily known for its involvement in developing a successful COVID-19 medication.

Ridgeback is privately owned by hedge fund manager and physician, Wayne Holman (formerly of S.A.C. Capital Advisors[1]) and his wife Wendy Holman. Wendy is the CEO at the company, which refers to itself as a majority woman owned business.[2]

In early 2020, Ridgeback purchased an exclusive license for the commercial development of Molnupiravir from Emory University, where the drug was initially developed with $16 million in grants from Federal agencies including the National Institutes of Health. The terms of the deal were undisclosed. Molnupiravir was initially researched as a treatment for influenza, but may have broad spectrum activity against other viruses.

Ridgeback was mentioned in a whistleblower complaint from Rick Bright, former director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority. The complaint alleged that Ridgeback lobbied the government for millions in funding to help develop Molnupiravir.

Merck & Co. partnered with Ridgeback to perform clinical trials with Molnupiravir in humans to treat COVID-19. Ridgeback has also developed a number of other advanced medications such as monoclonal antibody Ansuvimab against the Ebola virus.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]

  1. ^ Crow, David (30 June 2020). "Hedge fund manager stands to profit on 'flip' of taxpayer-funded coronavirus drug". Financial Times. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  2. ^ "Breakthrough Ebola Treatment Receives Contract from U.S. Government" (Press release). Ridgeback Biotherapeutics. 2 April 2020. Retrieved 2021-12-01.
  3. ^ "Drug launched at Emory reduces virus that causes COVID-19 to undetectable levels". Emory University. March 17, 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-07.
  4. ^ Lee, Arnold (2021). "Ansuvimab: First Approval". Drugs. 81 (5): 595–598. doi:10.1007/s40265-021-01483-4. PMC 7983082. PMID 33751449.
  5. ^ Painter, George R.; Natchus, Michael G.; Cohen, Oren; Holman, Wendy; Painter, Wendy P. (2021). "Developing a direct acting, orally available antiviral agent in a pandemic: The evolution of molnupiravir as a potential treatment for COVID-19". Current Opinion in Virology. 50: 17–22. doi:10.1016/j.coviro.2021.06.003. PMC 8277160. PMID 34271264.
  6. ^ Imran, Mohd.; Kumar Arora, Mandeep; Asdaq, Syed Mohammed Basheeruddin; Khan, Shah Alam; Alaqel, Saleh I.; Alshammari, Mohammed Kanan; Alshehri, Mohammed M.; Alshrari, Ahmed Subeh; Mateq Ali, Alreshidi; Al-Shammeri, Ahmed Muteb; Alhazmi, Bushra Dhuhayyan; Harshan, Aishah Ali; Alam, Md. Tauquir; Abida, Abida (2021). "Discovery, Development, and Patent Trends on Molnupiravir: A Prospective Oral Treatment for COVID-19". Molecules. 26 (19): 5795. doi:10.3390/molecules26195795. PMC 8510125. PMID 34641339.
  7. ^ Fischer, William; Eron, Joseph J.; Holman, Wayne; Cohen, Myron S.; Fang, Lei; Szewczyk, Laura J.; Sheahan, Timothy P.; Baric, Ralph; Mollan, Katie R.; Wolfe, Cameron R.; Duke, Elizabeth R.; Azizad, Masoud M.; Borroto-Esoda, Katyna; Wohl, David A.; Loftis, Amy James; Alabanza, Paul; Lipansky, Felicia; Painter, Wendy P. (2021). "Molnupiravir, an Oral Antiviral Treatment for COVID-19". medRxiv 10.1101/2021.06.17.21258639v1.
  8. ^ Ledford, Heidi (10 November 2021). "COVID antiviral pills: what scientists still want to know". Nature. doi:10.1038/d41586-021-02783-1. PMID 34625735. S2CID 238529450. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  9. ^ Rowland, Christopher (25 June 2020). "Hedge fund manager stands to profit on 'flip' of taxpayer-funded coronavirus drug". Washington Post. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  10. ^ "Emory's DRIVE, Ridgeback partnering for drug vs coronavirus" (Press release). Emory University. 23 March 2020. Retrieved 2021-12-01.