29th Mar 2021 15:06
(Alliance News) - GlaxoSmithKline PLC, together with partners Vir Biotechnology Inc and Eli Lilly & Co, on Monday announced positive top line data from phase two of its Blaze-4 trial which is studying investigational drug bamlanivimab on low-risk adult patients with mild to moderate Covid-19.
The Brentford, England-based pharmaceutical company said the study found that bamlanivimab co-administered with drug CIR-7831 demonstrated 70% "relative reduction in persistently high viral load at day seven compared to placebo", meeting the study's primary endpoint.
"This virologic evaluation of two antibodies with distinct resistance profiles is an encouraging advance in our fight against the pandemic," said Vir Chief Executive George Scangos.
No serious adverse events were seen with co-administration of bamlanivimab and VIR-7831, the company said.
The early data from the BLAZE-4 trial supports the hypothesis that by targeting a "highly conserved epitope", VIR-7831 may help deliver benefits to patients, said GSK Chief Scientific Officer Hal Barron.
An epitope is part of an antigen molecule to which an antibody attaches itself.
"We're continuing to work with regulators to bring VIR-7831 as a monotherapy and potentially co-administered with other monoclonal antibodies to patients in need," said Barron.
GSK shares were up 0.3% at 1,300.70 pence each in London on Monday afternoon.
By Greg Roxburgh; [email protected]
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