Eli Lilly monoclonal antibodies may reduce Covid-19 hospitalisations, study shows
Monoclonal antibodies being trialled by Eli Lilly appeared to help some patients rid themselves of the Covid-19 vrius more quickly.
Eli Lilly and Company
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06:05 19/04/24
Commenting on the trial results, known as Blaze-1, Daniel Skovronsky, Lilly's chief scientific officer, said: "These interim data from the BLAZE-1 trial suggest that LY-CoV555, an antibody specifically directed against SARS-CoV-2, has a direct antiviral effect and may reduce COVID-related hospitalizations.
"The results reinforce our conviction that neutralizing antibodies can help in the fight against COVID-19."
The manufactured antibodies, which Eli Lilly is developing together with Abcellera, tested three different doses of the treatment among 450 patients with mild-to-moderate Covid-19.
A middle dose of 2,800mg met the trial's primary endpoint of a "significant" reduction in patient levels of Sars-CoV-2 after 11 days.
The lower and higher dose amounts on the other hand did not show the same efficacy, with the latter potentially calling into question the findings.
However, Eli Lilly said that might be the result of how it measured and compared the treatment's effects, as after three days those patients who had received it did show lover viral levels.
Furthermore, the treatment appeared to reduce the probability that patients would end up being hospitalised, with only 1.7% of those dosed requiring hospitalisation, versus 6% of those administered a placebo - a 72% reduction in the risk of hospitalisation.
No adverse events were recorded during the trial.