Drug Discovery and Development

  • Home Drug Discovery and Development
  • Drug Discovery
  • Genomics/Proteomics
  • Oncology
  • Neurological Disease
  • Infectious Disease
  • R&D 100 Awards
  • Pharma 50
    • 2022 Pharma 50
    • 2021 Pharma 50

Researchers identify potent antibody cocktail to treat COVID-19

By Sean Whooley | June 17, 2020

Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) said they identified a promising anti-viral cocktail therapy against COVID-19.

According to a news release, the researchers evaluated several human antibodies to determine the most potent combination to be mixed and used against SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19. In collaboration with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (NSDQ:REGN), UMSOM published results of a study in Science.

Just last week, Regeneron announced that it had initiated the first clinical trial of its dual antibody cocktail for preventing COVID-19, having already used the same “rapid response” approach to develop its REGN-EB3 antibody treatment for Ebola that is under review by the FDA.

The research was conducted using Regeneron’s proprietary genetically modified VelocImmune mice, which have a human immune system and antibodies isolated from humans who recovered from COVID-19. Researchers selected the most potent antibodies , which bind non-competitively to the critical receptor-binding domain of the virus’ spike protein, diminishing the ability of mutant viruses to escape treatment.

“The ability of the research team to rapidly derive antibodies using these two methods enabled us screen their selected antibodies against live virus to determine which had the strongest anti-viral effects,” UMSOM associate professor of microbiology and immunology & study co-author Matthew Frieman said in a news release.

Regeneron is now investigating the cocktail in the recently started trial, evaluating whether it can improve the outcomes of COVID-19 patients, as well as if it can be used as a preventative therapy in those who are healthy but at high risk of contracting the virus due to working in a healthcare setting or being exposed to an infected person.

“Our School of Medicine researchers continue to provide vital advances on all fronts to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic and ultimately save lives,” UM Baltimore executive VP for medical affairs Dr. E. Albert Reece said. “This particular research not only contributes to a potential new therapy against COVID-19 but could have broader implications in terms of the development of monoclonal antibody therapies for other diseases.”


Filed Under: clinical trials, Drug Discovery, Drug Discovery and Development, Infectious Disease
Tagged With: coronavirus, covid-19, Regeneron, University of Maryland School of Medicine
 

Tell Us What You Think! Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Related Articles Read More >

Takeda Pharmaceutical in the Drug Discovery & Development Pharma 50
Takeda’s Takhzyro fares well in pediatric hereditary angioedema study
Novartis in the Pharma 50
Novartis to cut up to 8,000 positions
Gilead Sciences in the Drug Discovery & Development Pharma 50
Gilead resubmits application to FDA for twice-yearly HIV drug lenacapavir
George Floyd mural
How the pandemic and George Floyd made clinical trial diversity a priority

MEDTECH 100 INDEX

Medtech 100 logo
Market Summary > Current Price
The MedTech 100 is a financial index calculated using the BIG100 companies covered in Medical Design and Outsourcing.

Need Drug Discovery news in a minute?

We Deliver!
Drug Discovery & Development Enewsletters get you caught up on all the mission critical news you need. Sign up today.
Enews Signup
Drug Discovery and Development
  • MASSDEVICE
  • DEVICETALKS
  • Medical Design & Outsourcing
  • MEDICAL TUBING + EXTRUSION
  • MEDTECH 100
  • Medical Design Sourcing
  • Subscribe to our Free E-Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • R&D World
  • Drug Delivery Business News
  • Pharmaceutical Processing World

Copyright © 2022 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search Drug Discovery & Development

  • Home Drug Discovery and Development
  • Drug Discovery
  • Genomics/Proteomics
  • Oncology
  • Neurological Disease
  • Infectious Disease
  • R&D 100 Awards
  • Pharma 50
    • 2022 Pharma 50
    • 2021 Pharma 50