Sanofi, Regeneron expand testing of potential coronavirus treatment
[BENGALURU] Sanofi and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc have expanded a clinical trial of their rheumatoid arthritis drug Kevzara as a coronavirus treatment to patients outside the United States.
The companies said enrolments for the mid-to-late stage trial of Kevzara, an immune-system modifying drug known as a monoclonal antibody, have now started in Italy, Spain, Germany, France, Canada, and Russia. The US trials began last week.
The trial, expected to enroll about 300 patients, will recruit hospitalized patients from several countries who are severely or critically ill with COVID-19 infection, a disease caused by the highly contagious coronavirus.
The new coronavirus, called SARS-CoV2, has now infected more than 700,000 people worldwide, and over 30,000 people have died from it, according to a Reuters tally.
Doctors have seen that many of those who become critically ill from SARS-CoV2 are experiencing a so-called cytokine storm, which happens when the immune system overreacts and attacks the body's organs. Some researchers think drugs that can suppress the immune system, including monoclonal antibodies, might be useful for limiting this autoimmune response.
The United States has the most reported cases of any country in the world, with more than 130,000 cases of COVID-19.
GET BT IN YOUR INBOX DAILY
Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox.
Italy and Spain have been two of the worst-hit countries in Europe, recording the highest and the second highest death toll from coronavirus of any country in the world, respectively.
Regeneron is leading the US trials, while Sanofi is leading trials outside the US.
REUTERS
KEYWORDS IN THIS ARTICLE
BT is now on Telegram!
For daily updates on weekdays and specially selected content for the weekend. Subscribe to t.me/BizTimes
Consumer & Healthcare
Sony deal for Paramount would draw added regulatory scrutiny
Lululemon to shutter Washington distribution center, lay off 128 employees
Gazelle Ventures makes cash offer for No Signboard shares at S$0.0021 apiece
P&G raises annual core profit forecast on resilient demand, price hikes
Cordlife calls for trading halt after shares sink to all-time low, pending announcement
Marina Bay Sands Q1 profit surges 51.5% to US$597 million on tourism boom