Eli Lilly Ends Covid-19 Antibody Trial After Finding It’s Unlikely To Help
Topline
Eli Lilly said Monday that it will end a U.S.-based clinical trial for its coronavirus antibody treatment because the data indicates the treatment is unlikely to help coronavirus patients recover from advanced stages of the disease, a move which comes two weeks after it paused the trial citing a potential safety concern.
A scientist working in a lab.
Key Facts
No additional patients will participate in the trial run by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health.
Eli Lilly said there is “insufficient evidence” the treatment improved clinical outcomes when added to other treatments for patients hospitalized with coronavirus.
Eli Lilly said it will continue other trials for its coronavirus antibody treatment, including a study for recently diagnosed patients with mild to moderate illness, a phase two trial for non-hospitalized people recently diagnosed with the virus and a phase three trial for the prevention of coronavirus in residents and staff at long-term care facilities.
Based on the data from the phase two trial, Eli Lilly said it is “confident” the therapy may prevent coronavirus progression for people in earlier stages of the disease.
Tangent
President Trump has claimed an experimental antibody cocktail made by Regeneron that he was given was a “cure” and he has said positive things about Eli Lilly’s antibody therapy in recent videos. Trump’s confidant, former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, said he was given Eli Lily’s experimental antibody treatment when he was hospitalized for coronavirus this month. He had attended the September 26 event hosted at the White House to announce judge Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination to the Supreme Court. At least 14 people who attended have since tested positive.
Further Reading
Eli Lilly Covid-19 Antibody Treatment Trial Is Paused Due To ‘Potential Safety Concern’ (Forbes)
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