AstraZeneca’s antibody drug effective at preventing & treating Covid-19
AZD7442 is a combination of two
long-acting antibodies (LAABs) - Tixagevimab and Cilgavimab - derived from B-cells donated by convalescent patients after SARS-CoV-2 virus.
The AstraZeneca drug AZD7442, has
been undergoing final stage clinical trials to assess its safety and efficacy. AstraZeneca’s
antibody treatment has been shown to be highly effective at preventing Covid-19
in people who may not respond well to vaccines, according to new clinical trial
results.
AZD7442 is being studied in a
comprehensive clinical trial programme for both prevention and treatment of
COVID-19 in over 9,000 participants.
Preliminary ‘in vitro’ findings
from investigators at Oxford University and Columbia University demonstrate
that AZD7442 neutralises recent emergent SARS-CoV-2 viral variants, including
the Delta variant.
Key Points
- The data showed that patients given a single
injection of the antibody treatment were 83% less likely to develop
symptomatic cases of the coronavirus than participants who were given a
placebo.
- Around 2% of the world’s population is thought to be
at risk of not responding well to Covid-19 vaccines, according to
AstraZeneca. New hope for immunocompromised with low vaccine protection.
- In a separate trial, patients with mild-to-moderate
Covid-19 who were given one dose of AZD7442 within three days of
developing symptoms had their risk of developing severe disease reduced by
88%.
A six-month follow-up prevention trial - "showed robust
efficacy from a one-time intramuscular (IM) dose of the long-acting antibody
(LAAB) combination".
One 300mg IM dose reduced the
risk of developing symptomatic COVID-19 compared to placebo by 83 percent, it
added.
More than 75 per cent of participants had co-morbidities that put them at high risk for severe COVID-19 if they were to become infected, but no severe cases were recorded.
Another trial to test its efficacy in treating showed - those already suffering from "mild to moderate" Covid symptoms showed that one 600mg IM dose reduced the risk of developing severe illness or death by 88 percent.
Source:
https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/clinical/new-treatment-could-offer-18-months-protection-aga
Note: For informational purposes only. Consult your
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