Oxford: UK hospitals already using Trump antibody drug
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/03/uk-hospitals-already-using-trump-antibody-drug-says-expert
"The experimental coronavirus drug that Donald Trump is receiving is in use in a small number of UK hospitals, according to an Oxford University professor.
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Prof Peter Horby, who is part of Oxford Universitys national Recovery trial, which aims to identify potential treatments for Covid-19, said about three hospitals in the north began using the drug last weekend. He said the drug was due to be rolled out to another 30 to 40 UK hospitals next week.
He told BBC Radio 4s Today programme that the drug, REGN-COV2, was very promising and very potent.
"The class of drugs, these artificial antibodies, have been around for quite a while now, and theyve been extensively used in inflammatory conditions and cancers, and theyre pretty safe and well understood, and so the technology is something that I think we have confidence in, Horby said.
This particular drug has probably been given to, I would think now, four or five hundred patients, mild or severe patients in different trials, and so far theres been no worrying safety signals.
In the laboratory, in cell cultures, it has a very strong effect against the virus, and there have been studies in artificial animals where it also shows benefits. So probably of the drugs that are available, its one of the most promising.
Horby said a single dose of the treatment provided prolonged protection for a month to six weeks, making it quite attractive for the older population......(more)