Astra’s antibody drug prevents Covid-19 in high risk groups
The Peninsula
AstraZeneca Plc said its coronavirus antibody cocktail was found to be 77% effective in preventing symptomatic Covid-19 in high-risk people in a key trial, and the U.K. approved its first antibody treatment for the disease.
Results from Astra’s study found no one in the trial who received the cocktail contracted severe Covid-19 or died in relation to the disease, the company said in a statement Friday. The trial of 5,197 participants, which started in November, was looking at whether the drug could prevent infection in at-risk groups and took place in the U.S., U.K., Belgium, France and Spain. The result comes as the U.K. approved its first monoclonal antibody drug against Covid-19 Friday, giving a green light to a treatment from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Roche Holding AG. The product was first authorized in the U.S. in November and European authorities have said they’re on track to complete their review this year. Demand has jumped amid the delta variant surge, growing from a trickle to more than 120,000 doses a week, according to Regeneron.More Related News