Regeneron’s COVID-19 Antibody Drug Cocktail Completely Blocks Coronavirus Infection in Animal Test

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.’s (Tarrytown, NY, USA) COVID-19 antibody drug combination has prevented as well as treated the disease in rhesus macaques and hamsters, raising hopes of the cocktail treatment working for humans as well.

In animal studies of the antibody treatment on a total of 36 rhesus macaques and 50 hamsters, the company found that the results matched or exceeded the effects recently observed in animal studies of vaccine candidates. In one study, the cocktail of two monoclonal antibodies was able to “almost completely block establishment of virus infection,” according to the company. In a second study involving animals infected with a much higher level of the virus, the company found that the cocktail treatment managed to minimize infection and the prophylactic effect was significantly reduced when the dose was lowered.

Regeneron also found that in infected animals treated with the antibodies, the virus was cleared faster than those administered a placebo. Additionally, the company did not find any signs of a higher viral load or worsening of pathology after treatment in the animals, indicating that the antibody drug combination was unlikely to worsen symptoms in humans as well. Thus, the data suggests that Regeneron’s antibody cocktail therapy could offer clinical benefits in prevention as well as treatment of COVID-19. The company has already initiated late-stage clinical trials in humans to assess the antibody treatment’s ability to prevent and treat COVID-19, and has entered into a contract with the US government as part of its Operation Warp Speed program to provide the US with the treatment if the trials succeed.

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