June 8, 2020 -- Eli Lilly and its partner Junshi Biosciences of Shanghai, China, have begun a phase I clinical trial for Eli Lilly's second COVID-19 antibody therapy.
JS016 is a recombinant, fully human monoclonal antibody that specifically binds to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor-binding domain. Lilly and Junshi Biosciences are developing it together in China; Lilly has exclusive rights to develop the therapy for the rest of the world and plans to begin a trial with patients in the U.S. soon, it said. Both companies will assess the safety, pharmacokinetics, and immunogenicity of JS016 in healthy participants who have not been diagnosed with COVID-19, according to Lilly.
JS016 is Lilly's second antibody treatment for COVID-19 to undergo clinical trials. The first, LY-CoV555, is in a phase I trial and is being tested in patients hospitalized for the disease.