Coronavirus: Regeneron Treatment Reduces Death Risk, Study Says

TARRYTOWN, NY — A possible treatment for new coronavirus-related illnesses developed by Regeneron was found to be effective in reducing hospitalization or death.

A study of more than 4,500 non-hospitalized patients who were infected with the virus found REGEN-COV, an antibody cocktail, reduced the risk of hospitalization or death by 70 percent compared to a placebo, Regeneron, a Tarrytown-based company, announced Tuesday in a news release.

Dr. Suraj Saggar, trial investigator and chief of infectious disease at Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck, New Jersey, said it was a landmark moment in the fight against the new coronavirus.

"With so many people still getting infected, as well as recent data showing that REGEN-COV addresses emerging variants, these data underscore the need to rapidly adopt REGEN-COV as standard-of-care to offer high-risk patients their best chance to reduce serious consequences like hospitalization or death," he said.

The cocktail was found to shorten the duration of symptoms by four days, and a range of doses had similar effects, the company said.

Dr. George D. Yancopoulos, Regeneron's president and chief scientific officer, said his company will be working with the government, health care providers and others to support the rapid adoption of the antibody cocktail to appropriate patients.

"We will discuss the new data with regulatory authorities and request that the 1,200 mg dose be rapidly added to the U.S. Emergency Use Authorization, in order for the anticipated REGEN-COV supply to be available to treat even more patients," he said.

The cocktail is authorized for the treatment of mild to moderate new coronavirus disease in adults and children 12 or older who have tested positive for the virus and who are at risk for progressing to severe COVID-19 and/or hospitalization.

Detailed results from the trials will be shared with regulatory authorities and submitted for peer review as soon as possible, the company said.