[ad_1]
Research facility running two clinical trials testing LAAB combination therapy: UCLH (Representational)
London:
Scientists in the UK have started trials of innovative antibody drug treatments that they hope can provide instant protection against COVID-19.
The University College London Hospitals NHS Trust (UCLH) said that researchers in the Storm Chase study believe that a long-acting AntiBody (LAAB) known as AZD7442, developed by AstraZeneca, can offer immediate and long-term protection to people who have been exposed. recently to the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus and prevent them from developing COVID-19.
The study, led by UCLH virologist Dr. Catherine Houlihan, recruited the world’s first participant in the study earlier this month and has recruited 10 participants since.
“We know that this combination of antibodies can neutralize the virus, so we hope to find that giving this treatment by injection can lead to immediate protection against the development of COVID-19 in people who have been exposed, when it would be too late. to offer a vaccine, “Houlihan said.
UCLH said its new vaccine research center is running two clinical trials testing a combination treatment of LAAB to protect against COVID-19.
The second Provent study is looking at the use of AZD7442 in people who may not respond to vaccination, for example, when someone has a compromised immune system or is at increased risk of COVID-19 infection due to factors such as age and age. existing conditions.
“We will recruit people who are elderly or in long-term care, and who suffer from diseases such as cancer and HIV that can affect the ability of their immune systems to respond to a vaccine.
“We want to assure anyone for whom a vaccine does not work that we can offer an alternative that is just as protective,” said Dr. Nicky Longley, UCLH infectious disease consultant who leads the Provent study.
Antibodies are protein molecules that the body makes to help fight infection. Monoclonal antibodies are artificially produced in a laboratory and designed as possible medical treatments. They are designed to be injected directly into the body, unlike vaccines that “train” the immune system itself to produce antibodies.
“These two clinical trials are an important addition to testing new therapeutic approaches, as antibody treatments may offer an alternative to groups of patients who cannot benefit from a vaccine, such as immunosuppressed patients,” said Professor Stephen Powis, medical director of the National Health Service. (NHS) England.
LAABs are designed with AstraZeneca’s “proprietary” half-life extension technology to increase the durability of therapy for six to 12 months after a single administration. The combination of two LAABs is also designed to reduce the risk of resistance developed by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19.
“AZD7442 has the potential to be an important preventive and therapeutic medicine against COVID-19, targeting the most vulnerable patients. This work complements our vaccine development program,” said Mene Pangalos, AztraZeneca Executive Vice President, Biopharmaceutical Research and Development .
“Storm Chaser is exploring the use of a combination of monoclonal antibodies administered intramuscularly in those who have been exposed to SARS-CoV-2, an environment where vaccination would not have time to work and we have no other proven therapies until today. date. Storm Chaser is an important study that can have a major impact on our ability to control this infection, “said Professor Andrew Ustianowski, who is the principal investigator of the new studies.
UCLH said that in both Provent and Storm Chaser, researchers will evaluate whether the treatment reduces the risk of developing COVID-19 and / or reduces the severity of the infection compared to placebo.
Key participant groups in the Storm Chaser trial will include healthcare workers, students living in group quarters, and patients who are exposed to anyone with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, as well as residents of long-term care facilities and industrial / military environments. .
Both trials are taking place at the newly created Vaccine Research Center at UCLH, which opened this month to help accelerate the development of new vaccines and treatments during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Both Storm Chaser and Provent are crucial to finding a solution to this pandemic,” said Professor Vincenzo Libri, who heads the UCLH Center for Clinical Research supported by the UK’s National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).
“The opening of our new Vaccine Research Center will help advance our fight against the virus, fulfill our aspiration to save as many lives as possible and ensure a return to normalcy,” he said.
“Recent progress in vaccines is very welcome, and the development of these additional treatments will be vital to ensure that protection can be offered to everyone in society against COVID-19,” said Professor Marcel Levi, Executive Director of UCLH.
