An experimental coronavirus drug which is now being trialled on the NHS has been found to be 100 per cent effective in protecting against symptomatic cases of the virus.
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc said on Tuesday that its two-antibody cocktail REGEN-COV caused a 100 per cent reduction in symptomatic infections among those who got the drug after being exposed to a household member with Covid-19.
The pioneering cocktail, which was called a ‘cure’ by former U.S President Donald Trump after he was given the drug amid his coronavirus battle last year, also reduced overall infection rates – including asymptomatic ones – by around 50 per cent.
The findings, which were based on an early analysis of 400 participants in the U.S who had a household member with the virus, come months after it was revealed the drug was also being tested on ‘at least 2,000’ UK patients in 174 hospitals.
In September, Oxford University’s Professor Peter Horby – who is involved in a British trial of the drug – revealed there had been ‘no worrying safety signals’.
He said he expected the drug would be tested on ‘at least 2,000’ patients in 174 hospitals.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘The class of drugs, these artificial antibodies, have been around for quite a while now, and they’ve been extensively used in inflammatory conditions and cancers, and they’re pretty safe and well understood, and so the technology is something that I think we have confidence in.
‘This particular drug has probably been given to, I would think now, four or five hundred patients, mild or severe patients in different trials, and so far there’s been no worrying safety signals.
‘In the laboratory, in cell cultures, it has a very strong effect against the virus, and there have been studies in artificial animals where it also shows benefits.
‘So probably of the drugs that are available, it’s one of the most promising. ‘
The experimental drug is made up of two monoclonal antibodies and works by binding to a protein on the surface of the virus.
This helps to block infections of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, from attaching to cells and allows the immune system to respond.
The current trial tested REGEN-COV for use as a passive vaccine, which involves direct delivery of virus-fighting antibodies into the body unlike traditional vaccines in which the receiver’s immune system is activated to develop its own antibodies.
‘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,’ said George Yancopoulos, president and chief scientific officer of Regeneron.
Regeneron said it would discuss the interim results with U.S. health regulators to potentially expand the antibody cocktail’s current emergency use authorisation.
The results come a week after the U.S pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly said its similar drug prevented 80 per cent of nursing home residents from getting Covid-19.
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