AstraZeneca antibody cocktail shows reduced risk of Covid infection

AstraZeneca said its antibody cocktail to combat Covid-19 had achieved a “statistically significant reduction” in the risk of developing the virus or death in a phase 3 trial.

The drug, known as AZD7442, met the primary endpoint, reducing the risk of developing severe Covid-19 or death (from any cause) by 50% compared to placebo in outpatients who had been symptomatic for seven days or less, the company said on Monday.

In a prespecified analysis of participants who received treatment within five days of symptom onset, AZD7442 reduced the risk of developing severe Covid or death from any cause by 67% compared to placebo.

Astra's biotech compound contains lab-made antibodies designed to stay in the body for months to contain the virus in case of an infection.

"These important results for AZD7442, our long-acting antibody combination, add to the growing body of evidence for use of this therapy in both prevention and treatment of Covid-19. An early intervention with our antibody can give a significant reduction in progression to severe disease, with continued protection for more than six months," said Astra's biopharmaceuticals R&D executive vice-president Mene Pangalos.