UK trial shows antibody helps hospitalized COVID-19 patients

Researchers in the United Kingdom announced this week REGN-COV, a monoclonal antibody treatment for COVID-19, saved the lives of some hospitalized patients who tested negative for COVID-19 antibodies of their own. Previous studies showed giving monoclonal antibody treatments early in the course of the disease prevented some patients from being hospitalized. This was the first study to show a benefit in hospitalized patients. REGN-COV’s developer Regeneron said it would ask the Food and Drug Administration to expand the emergency use authorization of the antibody cocktail to include hospitalized patients. (STAT News article, 6/16/21)