(Reuters) - Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc said on Tuesday initial data from an ongoing study of its experimental antibody cocktail for use in hospitalized COVID-19 patients requiring low-flow oxygen show the therapy was sufficiently effective to warrant continuing the trial.
The drugmaker said in September the cocktail, a combination of two antibodies casirivimab and imdevimab, reduced viral levels and improved symptoms in non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
Study participants included those who had produced their own antibodies (seropositive) and those who had not (seronegative).
Seronegative patients treated with the antibody cocktail had a lower risk of death or needing mechanical ventilation, the company said. (http://bit.ly/3pA1AsI)
Based on these results, the company said an ongoing late-stage study in hospitalized patients will continue.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration last month issued emergency use authorization for the antibody therapy for use in mild to moderate COVID-19 patients who are not currently hospitalized.
