They claim drug reduces hospitalization or death from coronavirus by 85%

The British pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and the Californian laboratory Vir Biotechnology which developed the drug, called VIR-7831, assure that it is a new treatment for people with mild to moderate illnesses and due to the rapid and positive results obtained with Covid-19 patients, the study was terminated prematurely.

In a joint statement, they reported that the trial involving nearly 600 people involved early treatment with monoclonal antibody VIR-7831 in outpatient coronavirus patients at high risk of hospitalization. Monoclonal antibodies are molecules produced in the laboratory that mimic human antibodies.

They announced that they plan to apply for emergency use authorization for their antibody treatment. Another study found that VIR-7831 is effective against the main current variants of the coronavirus, including British, South African and Brazilian.

George Scangos, CEO of Vir said, “The data brings us even closer to delivering a new, effective solution to patients around the world. The dual-action design of the VIR-7831 blocking the entry of the virus into healthy cells and eliminating infected cells, as well as its strong barrier to resistance, are key distinguishing features“.

Scangos said they are also demonstrating the potential of this treatment to prevent the most serious consequences of the coronavirus and highlight its potential ability to protect against currently circulating strains of the virus.

In addition to the VIR-7831, the two laboratories are working on VIR-7832, the second monoclonal antibody being studied as a possible treatment against the coronavirus.

Preclinical data suggests that it has the potential to block entry of the virus into healthy cells and an increased ability to kill infected cells.