Eli Lilly pauses COVID-19 antibody trial due to safety concern
The US pharmaceutical company announces it is pausing enrolment in its COVID-19 antibody treatment trial ‘out of an abundance of caution’.
Published On 13 Oct 2020
US drugmaker Eli Lilly and Co said on Tuesday that the government-sponsored clinical trial of its COVID-19 antibody treatment has been paused because of a safety concern.
“Out of an abundance of caution, the ACTIV-3 independent data safety monitoring board (DSMB) has recommended a pause in enrollment,” Lilly spokeswoman Molly McCully said in an emailed statement. “Lilly is supportive of the decision by the independent DSMB to cautiously ensure the safety of the patients participating in this study.”
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Lilly’s drug is similar to the Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc treatment US President Donald Trump received after he contracted COVID-19.
Lilly had already asked US regulators to authorise its antibody therapy, LY-CoV555, for emergency use after publishing data in September that showed it helped cut hospitalisation and emergency room visits for COVID-19 patients. The treatment is being developed with Canadian biotech AbCellera.
Lilly shares were down nearly 3 percent amid the news on Tuesday, with the COVID-19 vaccine setback weighing on Wall Street.
Source: Reuters