Regeneron commences an accelerated development programme for two antibody cocktails

Regeneron has commenced an accelerated development programme for two antibody cocktails. If they work as hoped in clinical trials, expected to begin in June, they could be available as early as September-December 2020.

Regeneron is working to significantly ramp up the manufacturing of the drug, to six-digit numbers, with plans to have the doses of the two cocktails available by the end of August. They hope that the cocktails could treat patients who are already infected with SARS-CoV-2, as well as to prevent infection.

Regeneron is currently working with Sanofi to repurpose their already approved rheumatoid arthritis treatment, Kevzara (sarilumab), as a COVID-19 treatment and for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome.

George Yancopoulos, Regeneron Chief Scientific Officer, stated: With Ebola, we set the record of 9 months from initiating the project to starting human trials. Now we hope to break that record with 5 months from project initiation to the clinic. We think that there’s a very significant chance that these specifically designed, very potent neutralising antibodies will have a significant impact on the disease.”