US President Donald Trump posted a video Wednesday claiming that he was cured of the coronavirus disease after being treated with an experimental therapy from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.
After he was seen hailing him as a lifesaver in the video, Covid-19 patients across the country applied to join the antibody-based Regeneron’s clinical trials. The drug company said it has asked federal regulators to authorize its antibody treatment to Covid-19 for emergency use.
What is Regeneron?
REGN-COV2, a combination of two monoclonal antibodies, was specifically designed to block the infectivity of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, according to a report by Mint.
Read also: Trump says he wants to hold a campaign rally in Florida on Saturday
“To develop REGN-COV2, Regeneron scientists evaluated thousands of fully human antibodies produced by the company’s VelocImmune mice, which have been genetically modified to have a human immune system, as well as identified human antibodies that have been recovered from Covid. -19, ”Said a statement issued by the pharmaceutical company.
Trump received the antibody cocktail last Friday under a compassionate use program.
Late last month, Regeneron reported preliminary results of a trial showing the cocktail could reduce virus levels in coronavirus patients outside of the hospital.
Free drug for all Americans
Regeneron has said that it currently has doses available for approximately 50,000 patients and expects to have doses available for 300,000 patients in the coming months.
The company said in a statement that under its agreement with the United States government, the latter would be responsible for the distribution of the drug and would have to make the initial doses available to the American people at no cost if an emergency authorization is granted for part of the company. United States Food and Drug Administration.
Donald Trump’s health
Donald Trump’s doctor said Monday’s blood samples from the president show he had protective antibodies, but according to the drug company, those were likely the Regeneron antibodies he was given at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and not a natural response.
Read also: Trump suggests two delayed debates, Biden accepts one
Meanwhile, America’s chief of infectious diseases, Dr. Anthony Fauci, has pointed out that we don’t know if the president is okay, because patients’ conditions can go downhill more than a week after showing the first symptoms. .
However, White House physician Dr. Sean Conley said the president should be able to return to his public engagements on Saturday, according to the Bloomberg news agency. Trump, who was infected with the virus a week ago, returned to the White House on Monday. He has even said that he feels good and hopes to hold an election rally on Saturday.
(with contributions from the agency)
.
