Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine arrives at hospitals

The new antibody therapy has been developed by drug giant AstraZeneca – whose covid-19 vaccine is being rolled out from tomorrow – and has already been trialled on over 300 patients.

Scientists hope the treatment – which will now be trialled among 5,000 patients as part of the worldwide PROVENT study – following the results of preliminary trials showing it is safe – is expected to show that the cocktail of antibodies protects against Covid-19 for between six and 12 months.

Trial participants are receiving it as two doses, one after the other.

The new therapy is designed for tens of thousands of patients with immune problems who cannot have a vaccine – who are among those who need most protection.

This includes patients with weakened immune systems such as cancer patients, those who are very elderly, have had organ transplants or those with HIV all of whom may not mount a sufficient immune response to the vaccine – known as vaccine failure.

Vaccines are usually preferred to antibody treatments because they are considered to last longer.

But the new therapy gives an option where vaccines aren’t possible.

We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

Dr Mahadev Ramjee, Medical Director for Panthera Biopartners a clinical trial unit working on behalf of AstraZeneca and also lead investigator of the study which is being carried out in Preston, Rochdale and Enfield, north London said: “Many of those who need the vaccine the most are the least likely to get it due to compromised immune systems.

“We hope this cutting edge technology will do what has not been done before which is to protect these people who are highly susceptible to covid.

“If successful the therapy could save thousands of lives and will be a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of patients who are unable to have a vaccine.”

Ian Mitchell, 66, was one of the first patients on the trial of the new therapy. Mr Mitchell, a former NHS risk manager, has damage to his airways following surgery a decade ago and also has an artificial heart valve.

Mr Mitchell, father of four, from Preston Lancashire, said: “My GP picked me to go on the trial because I have multiple health conditions. I had two injections at the end of November partly because I wanted to help out with research and also with my complex medical history I had a morbid curiosity about the research. So far I have had no ill effects.”

Trials have already begun on another AstraZeneca antibody treatment that offers protection to people who have been recently exposed to virus.

Source: Read Full Article