/cloudfront-us-east-2.images.arcpublishing.com/reuters/ZDJERGLRAZISPGCAYKZ2MI3WWM.jpg "AstraZeneca says antibody treatment failed in preventing COVID-19 in exposed patients")
AstraZeneca says antibody treatment failed in preventing COVID-19 in exposed patients
Vials labelled "Astra Zeneca COVID-19 Coronavirus Vaccine" and a syringe are seen in front of a displayed AstraZeneca logo, in this illustration photo taken March 14, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
Anglo-Swedish drugmaker AstraZeneca (AZN.L) said on Tuesday a study of its monoclonal antibody treatment, AZD7442, did not meet the main goal of preventing symptomatic COVID-19 in people recently exposed to the novel coronavirus.
The company said the participants in the trial were unvaccinated adults older than 18 years with confirmed exposure to a person with the coronavirus within the past eight days.
AZD7442 reduced the risk of developing symptomatic COVID-19 by 33% compared to a placebo, which was not statistically significant, the company reported.
"While this trial did not meet the primary endpoint against symptomatic illness, we are encouraged by the protection seen in the PCR negative participants following treatment with AZD7442," Mene Pangalos, AstraZeneca executive vice president, said in a statement.
