AstraZeneca announced positive results from its COVID-19 antibody cocktail

a COVID-19 Antibody Cocktail developed by the Anglo-Swedish laboratory AstraZeneca gave results deemed positive in phase 3 clinical trials, the pharmaceutical company announced on Monday in a press release.

Trials on the drug AZD7442, consisting of a combination of antibodies, “Led to a statistically satisfactory reduction” in “severe cases of COVID-19 or deaths from disease compared to placebo in ambulatory patients with mild or moderate symptoms”, AstraZeneca explained.

The trial was conducted in 13 countries and had more than 900 adult participants, half of whom received AZD7442 and the rest received placebo. Full trial results will be presented for publication in a peer-reviewed journal, AstraZeneca said. 90% of the participants belonged to categories of patients considered to be at high risk of developing severe forms of COVID-19, including those with co-morbidities.

Participants received treatment within five days of onset of symptoms, and preliminary analysis of the results shows that “AZD7442 reduced the risk of developing severe or fatal COVID-19 in 67% of cases compared to placebo“, note the statement.

“As severe cases of COVID-19 continue around the world, there is a significant need for new therapies such as AZD7442 to protect vulnerable populations “said Hugh Montgomery, professor of critical care medicine at University College London and one of the lead investigators in this clinical trial.

AstraZeneca will present the data to health authorities and has already submitted a request to the United States Food and Drug Administration, the FDA, to approve the drug to treat COVID-19.

AZD7442 contains lab-made antibodies designed to stay in the body for months and contain the virus if infected. A vaccine, on the other hand, relies on an intact immune system to develop antibodies and specific cells that fight infection. “Early intervention with our antibody can provide a significant reduction in progression to severe disease, with continued protection for more than six months,” said Mene Pangalos, executive vice president of AstraZeneca.

The group announced in March an agreement with the United States to provide up to 700,000 doses of this antibody treatment to the country this year for a total of 726 million dollars.

While Monday’s results cover outpatient use of AZD7442, there is another trial investigating its use as an inpatient treatment for COVID-19.

Other antibody cocktail treatments for COVID-19 have shown varying degrees of success.

Therapy Regenerate showed 72% protection against symptomatic infection in the first week and 93% thereafter. That of GSK-Vir has shown a 79% reduction in the risk of hospitalization or death from any cause, while drug treatment Lily showed a 70% reduction in viral load on day 7 compared to placebo.

With information from AFP and Reuters

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