The University College London Hospitals NHS Trust (UCLH) said the researchers in the Storm Chase study believe that a Long Acting AntiBody (LAAB), known as AZD7442, developed by AstraZeneca, can provide immediate and long-lasting protection to people recently exposed 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 since recruited 10 participants.
“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 exposed people – when it would be too late. to offer the virus a vaccine, ”said Houlihan.
UCLH said its new vaccine research center is conducting two clinical trials to test a LAAB combination treatment to protect against COVID-19.
The second Provent study looks 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 pre-existing conditions.
“We will recruit people who are older or in long-term care, who have conditions such as cancer and HIV that can affect their immune system’s ability to respond to a vaccine.
“We want to reassure anyone for whom a vaccine may not work that we can offer an alternative that is just as protective,” said Dr. Nicky Longley, UCLH infectious diseases adviser who led the Provent study.
Antibodies are protein molecules that the body makes to fight infections. Monoclonal antibodies are artificially produced in a laboratory and designed as potential 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 can provide an alternative for groups of patients who do not benefit from a vaccine, such as immunocompromised patients,” said Professor Stephen Powis, the medical director of the National Health Service. (NHS) England.
The LAABs have been developed with AstraZeneca’s “patented” half-life extension technology to extend the durability of the therapy for six to twelve months after a single administration. The combination of two LAABs is also intended 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 drug against COVID-19 targeting the most vulnerable patients. This work complements our vaccine development program, ”said Mene Pangalos, AztraZeneca Executive Vice President for BioPharmaceuticals Research and Development.
Storm Chaser is exploring the use of a combination of monoclonal antibodies given intramuscularly in those exposed to SARS-CoV-2 – an environment where vaccination would not have time to work and we have no other proven therapies to date. This makes Storm Chaser an important study that could have a major impact on our ability to control this infection, ”noted Professor Andrew Ustianowski, who is the lead investigator on the new studies.
UCLH said researchers in both Provent and Storm Chaser will assess whether the treatment reduces the risk of developing COVID-19 and / or reduces the severity of the infection compared to placebo.
The main groups of participants in the Storm Chaser study include health professionals, students living in group accommodations, and patients exposed to someone with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, as well as residents of long-term care and industrial / military settings. .
Both studies are taking place at the newly established Vaccine Research Center at UCLH, which opened this month to accelerate the development of new vaccines and treatments during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Both Storm Chaser and Provent are critical to finding a solution to this pandemic,” said Professor Vincenzo Libri, who heads the UCLH Clinical Research Facility, supported by the UK’s National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).
“The opening of our new Vaccine Research Center will help propel our fight against the virus, our commitment to save as many lives as possible, and bring about a return to normalcy,” he said.
“The recent advances in vaccines are hugely welcome, and the development of these complementary treatments will be vital to ensure that everyone in society can receive protection from COVID-19,” said Professor Marcel Levi, Chief Executive from UCLH.
This story was published from a wire desk feed with no changes to the text.