Roche’s seeming lack of confidence in the future of AT-527 appears to be weighing on investors. Atea shares, which soared above $88 in February 2021, dropped 20% to below $9 apiece in early trading Wednesday.
Even if the drug succeeds in the next phase of research, AT-527 will likely lag pills developed by Merck and Pfizer that have both shown dramatic benefit in late-stage trials. Merck and its partner, Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, have already won approval to sell their drug in the U.K.