Eli Lilly Begins Phase III Trial of Antibody Against COVID-19

Eli Lilly announced the start of a Phase III trial within nursing and assisted-living communities of a neutralizing antibody to prevent the virus that causes COVID-19, reports TheStreet.com . The drugmaker has partnered with the U.S. National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for this trial, which involves the participation of several long-term care communities throughout the United States. The trials will enroll residents and staff who live or work in communities that have a recently diagnosed case of COVID-19 and who are at a high risk of exposure. Lilly said the study will determine whether a single dose of LY-CoV555 "reduces the rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection through four weeks as well as complications of COVID-19 through eight weeks." The company expects to enroll up to 2,400 participants, and it said earlier trials indicted LY-CoV555 "has been well tolerated at all doses tested and no drug-related severe adverse events have been observed to date." The antibody is designed to block the virus from binding to and penetrating human cells. Lilly is employing customized mobile research units to support the on-site study.