A monoclonal antibody to prevent Covid-19 in vulnerable patients, AZD3152, has entered clinical trials less than 12 months after discovery.
AstraZeneca has initiated the SUPERNOVA Phase I/III trial of AZD5156 (a combination of AZD3152 and cilgavimab) in pre-exposure prophylaxis of Covid-19, following the company licensing AZD3152 from RQ Bio in May 2022.
The commencement of the trial triggers a $5 million milestone payment to RQ Bio and will enable the company to execute its four scientific programmes focused on viral diseases.
Hugo Fry, CEO of RQ Bio, comments: “We’re delighted that one of our discovered antibodies is now at the core of an innovative AstraZeneca investigational medicine reaching clinical trials.”
“While vaccines remain the cornerstone of active immunisation, vulnerable populations that cannot build an immune response with vaccination can benefit from protection from a monoclonal antibody.”
An accelerated development programme by AstraZeneca means a new Covid-19 product could be available in the second half of 2023, subject to trial readouts and regulatory reviews.
