Regeneron unveils early, ‘positive’ data for passive vaccination therapy

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. today announced interim data indicating that its REGEN-COV antibody cocktail could be used as a passive vaccine to prevent COVID-19.

According to Regeneron, the use of an antibody cocktail of casirivimab and imdevimab resulted in 100% prevention of symptomatic infection, and approximately 50% lower overall infection rates. In addition, the lower number of infections during this therapy were asymptomatic, with decreased peak virus levels and short duration of viral shedding.

Infections for those using REGEN-COV lasted no more than one week; in comparison, approximately 40% of placebo group infections lasted three to four weeks.

The interim data, culled from the first 409 evaluable participants enrolled in an ongoing phase 3 trial being run jointly with the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Disease, has yet to be peer-reviewed or published in a scientific journal.

Regeneron has an agreement with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority to supply approximately 1.5 million doses of REGEN-COV to the federal government upon gaining emergency use authorization.