By
Darya Rudz
September 21st, 2021
The REGN-COV2 treatment offered to COVID-19 patients have shown good results in reducing the viral load even in patients with not so strong immune system.
On Tuesday, September 29, pharmaceutical company Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: REGN) said its COVID-19 treatment is showing impressive results in reducing the viral levels. As reported by Reuters, the company’s two-antibody cocktail improved symptoms in non-hospitalized patients.
The deadly coronavirus has already taken over a million lives worldwide. Big companies have joined the race to produce a potential vaccine that could possibly come in early 2021. Speaking about Regeneron’s developments, the company’s Chief Scientific Officer George Yancopoulos said that they “hope these data will support a EUA” that comes from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Note that the USFDA can also authorize the emergency use of drugs if required, even before the approval.
The REGN-COV2 treatment is currently been tested on hospitalized patients. Besides, scientists are also monitoring results for the prevention of infection among people exposed to COVID-19. However, there’s still no clarity on its results as Regeneron has declined to comment at this moment.
Thus, the response of REGN-COV2 treatment in the case of severely ill patients or high viral load isn’t available. Yancopoulos noted that for studying the REGN-COV2 treatment on patients, they need to test those with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 symptoms. Therapeutic use will depend on the availability of the right diagnostic tools, he added.
Available Results of Testing COVID-19 Treatment by Regeneron
Regeneron has performed some trials over patients over the last few weeks. The general observation is that the first 275 people have shown the biggest effect were the patients who did not create high antibodies against the virus. The pharmaceutical client goes to conclude that REGN-COV2 can also help patients whose natural immune system is not strong to combat the virus.
Regeneron also believes that the treatments dual anti-body will also prevent the virus from escaping detection or attacks. So far, Regeneron has tested two different doses of REGN-COV2 in two different patient populations. 1) Those whose immune response wasn’t adequate (seronegative) and 2) Those who mounted an effective immune response on their own (seropositive).
Regeneron claims that REGN-COV2 has effectively reduced viral levels in seronegative patients. Moreover, patients with higher virus levels at the beginning of the treatment had a sharp reduction in viral loads with its treatment. “The data are favorable for seronegative patients,” Jefferies analyst Michael Yee said.
Regeneron has already received a $450 million contract from the U.S. government for the supply of 300,000 doses of its antibody cocktail. Shares of Regeneron Pharma (NASDAQ: REGN) were trading at $573 on Tuesday closing. The stock is already up 4% in early morning trading on Wednesday.
