An antibody cocktail in phase three trials produced by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, is emerging as a game-changer in the fight against the COVID virus, and much more effective than any of the vaccines that have been fast-tracked.
On Tuesday, Regeneron announced that its phase 3 trial antibody cocktail has evidenced a 100 percent prevention of symptomatic COVID infections.
Results to date also show an approximate 50 percent lower overall rate of infection across all patients. In infections that did occur, crest virus levels were diminished and had a rapid duration of viral shedding.
None of the study participants in the test group that received the cocktail had high viral loads. Sixty-two percent of those infected who were treated with a placebo.
“These data using REGEN-COV as a passive vaccine suggest that it may both reduce transmission of the virus as well as reduce viral and disease burden in those who still get infected,” George Yancopoulos, president and chief scientific officer at Regeneron, said in a statement.
“Even with the emerging availability of active vaccines, we continue to see hundreds of thousands of people infected daily, actively spreading the virus to their close contacts. The REGEN-COV antibody cocktail may be able to help break this chain by providing immediate passive immunity to those at high risk of infection, in contrast to active vaccines which take weeks to provide protection.”
Regeneron's antibody cocktail effective in preventing COVID-19 infection: study https://t.co/z0AiMuNlaL
— Greta Van Susteren (@greta) January 26, 2021
Regeneron, a US-based company, said negative events occurred approximately 12 percent of the study group that took the cocktail, as opposed to 18 percent who were administered the placebo.
One person in the placebo group died and another was hospitalized. No deaths or hospitalizations occurred in the treatment group.
“It’s notable that the few infections that did occur after receiving REGEN-COV were all asymptomatic and associated with markedly lower viral load and duration of viral shedding, potentially further reducing transmission,” David Weinreich, head of global clinical development at the company, said in a statement. “We look forward to seeing the full dataset early next quarter and will discuss the current results with regulatory authorities, including the potential to expand the Emergency Use Authorization.”
Regeneron ( $REGN ) says its Covid-19 antibody cocktail could be used as a 'passive vaccine' to protect those living with infected patients.https://t.co/PE8UzWQKBR
— TheStreet (@TheStreet) January 26, 2021
In November of last year, shortly after the 2020 General Election, federal drug regulators issued emergency authorization to the cocktail. It is unclear whether this authorization was politically timed.
The cocktail, containing two monoclonal antibodies named casirivimab and imdevimab, is meant to boost the immune system against COVID.
Former President Donald Trump was administered the cocktail after he contracted the China originated COVID virus last year. He recovery time was short and complete.