In an exploratory analysis conducted on the first approximately 400 evaluable individuals enrolled in the phase III trial, the researchers found that passive vaccination with Regen-CoV resulted in 100% prevention of symptomatic COVID-19 infection and approximately 50% lower overall rates of infection than those who had received only placebo, Regeneron said. What's more, those who had received Regen-CoV and had asymptomatic infections experienced markedly decreased levels and duration of viral shedding.

Infections in the placebo group had an average of more than 100-fold higher peak load. Furthermore, infections in the Regen-CoV group lasted no more than one week, while about 40% of infections in the placebo group lasted three to four weeks, Regeneron said. None of the infected individuals in the Regen-CoV group had high viral loads, compared with 62% of the infected placebo group, according to the firm.

The trial is being run jointly by Regeneron with the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). The company said it expects to have confirmatory phase III results in the second quarter.

Regulatory Roundup: Designations come through before year's end
This week's Regulatory Roundup covers activities from November 30 to December 4 and is filled with breakthrough, orphan, and rare disease designations...

FDA issues EUA for Regeneron's COVID-19 mAb cocktail
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) on November 21 for the casirivimab and imdevimab monoclonal antibody...

Independent monitoring committee recommends halting REGN-COV2 trial
The independent data monitoring committee of the REGN-COV2 antibody cocktail treatment trials for COVID-19 has recommended holding enrollment in hospitalized...

Regeneron's antibody cocktail improves COVID-19 patients
An investigational antibody cocktail by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals reduced the viral loads and improved the systems of nonhospitalized COVID-19 patients,...

Regeneron begins phase III trial of COVID-19 treatment in U.K.
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and the University of Oxford have commenced a phase III clinical trial of potential treatments for COVID-19.