AstraZeneca’s antibody fails to stop Covid in exposed patients

AstraZeneca’s antibody fails to stop Covid in exposed patients

The monoclonal treatment AZD7442 was trialled in unvaccinated adults older than 18 years.

CAMBRIDGE:
Anglo-Swedish drugmaker AstraZeneca said today a study of its monoclonal antibody treatment, AZD7442, did not meet the main goal of preventing symptomatic Covid-19 in people recently exposed to the novel coronavirus.

The company said the participants in the trial were unvaccinated adults older than 18 years with confirmed exposure to a person with the coronavirus within the past eight days.

AZD7442 reduced the risk of developing symptomatic Covid-19 by 33% compared to a placebo, which was not statistically significant, the company reported.

AstraZeneca is also studying the treatment in a pre-exposed patients trial and for preventing more severe disease.

Rivals Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc and Eli Lilly & Co have similar monoclonal antibody products that have been authorised for use.

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