1. Scrip
  2. >>COVID-19

AstraZeneca Shrugs Off COVID Antibody’s Inferiority In Therapy Setting, Sees Prevention As Main Role

Injection Cut Risk By 50%

 
• By Andrew McConaghie

AstraZeneca’s anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody product is unlikely to rival Regeneron or Vir/GSK’s offerings in mild-to-moderate patients, where Merck’s newly-submitted oral molnupiravir will also change treatment.

AstraZeneca biologics
AstraZeneca's 600mg intramuscular dose is much lower than rival IV therapies, which should make hitting production easier, but the company is not disclosing its manufacturing targets.

AstraZeneca’s injectable antibody therapy AZD7442 has succeeded in cutting risk of people with COVID-19 progressing to severe illness or death, but has fallen short of the efficacy achieved in similar studies of rival treatments from Regeneron, Eli Lilly and Vir/GSK.

Results from its Phase III TACKLE study found that AZD7442 (tixagevimab and cilgavimab) given by intramuscular injection, cut the risk of individuals at high risk of progression to severe COVID-19, including those with co-morbidities, from developing severe COVID-19 or death (from any cause) by 50% compared with placebo, when given within seven days of mild to

Read the full article – start your free trial today!

Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on Scrip for daily insights

  • Start your 7-day free trial
  • Explore trusted news, analysis, and insights
  • Access comprehensive global coverage
  • Enjoy instant access – no credit card required
Start Free Trial

Already a subscriber?

More from COVID-19

Arcturus and CSL Take on Pfizer With Longer-Lasting COVID Vaccine

 
• By Kevin Grogan

Kostaive is the first self-amplifying mRNA COVID-19 vaccine to receive approval from the European Commission and could provide serious competition to Pfizer/BioNTech's Comirnaty and Moderna's Spikevax.

Under-Pressure Moderna Banks $590m To Speed Up Bird Flu Vaccine

 
• By Kevin Grogan

A week after a downbeat forecast at J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, the US mRNA specialist has pocketed another sizeable sum from the US Department of Health and Human Services to accelerate development of an H5N1 mRNA pandemic influenza vaccine.

Stock Watch: Q3, Bonfire Of The Vaccine Manufacturers

 
• By Andy Smith

Pfizer’s and Moderna’s quarterly pandemic-related product sales could not mask other weaknesses while GSK’s quarter was marred by unimpressive non-pandemic vaccines sales.

Meiji Considers Legal Action Amid Japan Misinformation On Kostaive Vaccine

 
• By Lisa Takagi

Japanese distributor Meiji Seika Pharma is considering possible legal action against what it views as online slander around COVID-19 vaccine Kostaive, which received its global-first approval in Japan last year and has now been launched for regular vaccination in the country.

More from Scrip

Novo Nordisk’s CEO Forced Out After Falling Behind In GLP-1 Battle

 
• By Andrew McConaghie

Company surprises investors with Jørgensen's exit but insists its strategy will not change.

In Brief: US FDA Delay Sends Biohaven Shares Down

 
• By Andrew McConaghie

The US regulator’s decision has taken Biohaven and investors by surprise, with the reason for a ‘major amendment’ status not clear.

Executives On The Move: Pathos Procures CEO From AstraZeneca, New CEO For TME Pharma, And More

Recent moves in the industry include changes at the top at Akamis Bio, Innospera Pharma & Ispen, plus Astellas Korea appoints an ex-Novartis Korea executive.