Aug 20 - The UK's health regulator said on Friday an antibody cocktail developed by Regeneron and Roche to treat and prevent COVID 19 - it said it could soon be introduced to patients.
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency said that the drug Ronapreve could help prevent infections, help resolve symptoms of severe COVID - 19 infection and reduce the chances of hospitalisation.
This treatment will be a significant addition to our armoury to take out COVID - 19, British health minister Sajid Javid said in a statement.
Ronapreve can be taken via injection or infusion. It binds tightly to the coronavirus at the lining of the respiratory system and prevents it from gaining access to cells of the respiratory system, the MHRA said.
Ronapreve belongs to a class of drugs called natural antibodies which mimic monoclonal antibodies produced by the body to fight infections. The drug is not intended to be used as a substitute for vaccination, the MHRA said.
Last month, Japan became the first country to approve Ronapreve to treat mild to moderate COVID - 19 infections.