AstraZeneca PLC (LSE:AZN) (LSE:AZN) said its antibody combination AZD7442 achieved a statistically significant reduction in the incidence of symptomatic COVID-19 in a phase III trial.
AZD7442 reduced the risk of developing symptomatic COVID-19 by 77% compared to placebo, the drug company said in a statement.
It added that there were no cases of severe COVID-19 or COVID-19-related deaths in those treated with AZD7442, while in the placebo group there were three cases of severe COVID-19, including two deaths.
“AZD7442 is the first antibody combination (non-vaccine) modified to potentially provide long-lasting protection that has demonstrated prevention of COVID-19 in a clinical trial,” AstraZeneca said.
Myron J. Levin, MD, Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, US, and principal investigator on the trial, said the data from the trial show that “one dose of AZD7442, delivered in a convenient intramuscular form, can quickly and effectively prevent symptomatic COVID-19”.