GSK: to test monoclonal antibody as Covid-19 treatment

(CercleFinance.com) - Drugmakers GlaxoSmithKline and Vir Biotechnology are planning to launch clinical trials exploring whether Vir's antibody could be used as a Covid-19 treatment.


The research agreement with UK-based Agil, a platform based on adaptable protocols and statistical models, will evaluate VIR-7832 in patients with mild-to- moderate coronavirus in a phase 1b/2a clinical trial.

Preclinical data suggests the dual-action monoclonal antibody can potentially block both the viral entry into healthy cells and clear infected cells.

The Phase 1b study will evaluate the safety and tolerability of a single dose of VIR-7832 by intravenous infusion in 24 participants, and Phase 2 will include three treatment arms and 125 patients, the companies said.

The trial, to be conducted at up to five sites in the UK, is due to begin in the first quarter of 2021.

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