The search for a safe COVID-19 vaccine showed signs of hope, with two biotech groups announcing encouraging outcomes for potential treatments that intersected with the accelerated campaign toward an experimental vaccine.
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals said its potential two-antibody compound cut the amount of the pathogen in the body and boosted the condition of non-hospitalized coronavirus patients - improving chances of winning approval.
Preliminary trial findings of Regeneron's monoclonal antibody mixture involving 275 participants indicated it helped ease symptoms in those suffering mild to moderate virus infections. Monoclonal antibodies are synthetically generated versions of proteins produced by the body's immune system. Many pharmaceutical firms are applying the technology to make copies of antibodies for COVID-19
James Crowe, a Vanderbilt University viroimmunologist who is collaborating with AstraZeneca to develop monoclonal antibodies, welcomed Regeneron's extensive initial findings. "I applaud Regeneron for releasing so much detailed information," Science Mag quoted him as saying.
In a conference call, Regeneron chief scientific officer George Yancopoulos hoped this information will "support an emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration," Live Mint reported.
Regeneron's clinical results follow inspiring developments from biotech firm Eli Lilly on its own antibody vaccine that slashed recovery time in hospitalized coronavirus patients, and teams up on international programs in the fight against the disease's spread.
According to Eli Lilly chief scientific officer Daniel Skovronsky, Regeneron's data are "quite confirmatory" of their own and do not expect "major differences between good neutralizing antibodies," Science Mag reported.
Both Regeneron and Lilly said they are sharing information with the government to determine whether their monoclonal antibodies might require shifting to an application through mediums like the Food and Drug Administration's emergency use authorization proceeding.
