Early Results with a Neutralizing Antibody Cocktail Against SARS-CoV-2

Neutralizing antibodies directed against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein are being evaluated as a treatment for COVID-19. In an industry-sponsored trial, researchers assessed outcomes after an intravenous infusion of a cocktail of two antibodies (REGN-COV2) in 275 symptomatic outpatients testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 within 3 days of enrollment. Participants were randomized to receive placebo, 2.4 gm REGN-COV2, or 8.0 gm REGN-COV2.

Among the 41% of participants who were seronegative for endogenous SARS-CoV-2 antibodies at baseline, the time-weighted average change in viral load through day 7 was greater in the combined groups receiving either dose of REGN-COV2 than in the placebo group (difference, −0.56 log₁₀ copies/mL). Among all patients, …