Pharmaceutical company AstaZeneca (AZN) said its long-acting antibody combination Covid-19 treatment AZD7442 reduced severe outcomes and death by 50%.

An antibody is a protein used by the immune system to identify and neutralise foreign bodies and threats such as pathogen bacteria and viruses.

A final stage three trial enrolled outpatients with mild-to-moderate Covid-19 symptoms of which 90% were at high risk of progressing to severe Covid-19, including patients with existing medical conditions.

The company said an intramuscular injection of AZD7442 administered in patients who had been symptomatic for seven days or less reduced the risk of severe Covid-19 or death by 50% compared with patients who received the placebo.

In a prespecified analysis of participants who received treatment within five days of producing symptoms the antibody reduced the risk of severe Covid-19 or death from any cause by 67% compared with the placebo.

AstraZeneca shares dipped 0.1% to £88.80 on Monday, although the stock has rallied around 10% since mid-September.

WORLD FIRST

AstraZeneca said that AZD7442 is the first long acting antibody combination with supporting phase three data that demonstrated a benefit as both a preventative medicine as well a treatment for Covid-19 and which is easily administered by intramuscular injection.

AZD7442 was discovered by Vanderbilt University Medical Center in June 2020 and licensed to AstraZeneca who optimised the effectiveness of the antibodies.

EMERGENCY USE APPLICATION

AstraZeneca has submitted an emergency use application request to the US drug regulator, the Food and Drug Administration for AZD7442 to be used as a preventative treatment of Covid-19.

In August the company said that AZD7442 demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in the risk of developing severe Covid-19. The antibody combination is also being studied as a potential treatment for hospitalised Covid-19 patients.

READ MORE ABOUT ASTRAZENECA HERE

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Issue Date: 11 Oct 2021