Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 03, 2025

AstraZeneca's logo is reflected in a drop on a syringe needle in this illustration

Britain to become first country to trial AstraZeneca coronavirus antibody treatment

New antibody combination aims to help people with weakened immune systems
A new coronavirus antibody treatment developed by pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca will begin clinical trials for the first time in the UK.

A volunteer from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, will become the first person in the world to receive the company’s new “antibody cocktail”, which is aimed at people with a weakened immune system who cannot be vaccinated.

The clinical trial programme will test whether the treatment will prevent Covid-19 for up to a year. It will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a combination of two long-acting monoclonal antibodies, which are man-made proteins that act like natural human antibodies in the immune system.

5,000 volunteers will be recruited into the trial, including 1,000 people from nine sites in the UK.

Sir Mene Panaglos, executive vice president of biopharmaceutical research and development at AstraZeneca, said: “There is going to be a significant number of people - even in a world where vaccines are highly effective - who will not respond to vaccines, or in fact will not take vaccines.

“So having monoclonal antibodies as potential therapeutics is also important.”

He called for people, especially vulnerable people over the age of 60 who are immuno-suppressed, to sign up to the trial. These will include people from health care and care home settings.

The UK Government agreed in principle to secure access to one million doses of the antibody treatment, dubbed AZD7442, if it produces successful results in the phase three trials.

Kate Bingham, chairwoman of the UK’s Vaccine Taskforce, said the treatment will be part of the UK’s Covid protection portfolio.

“So, obviously, vaccines work in people who have a functional immune system,” she said. “[But] if you are immuno-suppressed, and you are going through bone marrow transplants, or indications or treatments that actually reduce your ability to mount an immune response, then this is basically the only current way of providing that short-term passive immunity.

“So we are absolutely looking to protect those people who are immuno-suppressed or those people who need immediate protection, because you will remember that vaccines typically take about six weeks to work.”

The NHS Vaccine Research Registry, which comprises a list of 340,000 volunteers willing to take part in clinical trials, will provide some patients for AstraZeneca’s trial.

Sir Mene explained that the two antibodies have been engineered with a life-extension technology to make them effective for longer.

Scientists think the combination will provide protection for at least six months, but closer to 12 months. He described it as a “passive vaccination”.

It is unclear how much the treatment will cost, but Sir Mene said it will be “more expensive than vaccines”, adding: “We hope to make it cost-effective.”

Alok Sharma, the business aecretary, said in a statement: “I am very proud that the UK is the first country in the world to begin this invaluable study, and that a fifth of trial volunteers will be from Britain - a testament to our fantastic life sciences sector and the willingness of our people to come forward to help others.

“As we move closer to a Covid-19 vaccine, we must keep driving forward clinical trials for new and alternative treatments that protect our vulnerable, particularly those who cannot receive a vaccine.

“That is why we have procured one million doses of AstraZeneca’s long-acting antibody treatment if it meets robust safety and effectiveness standards.”
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
China Accuses US of Violating Trade Truce
Panama Port Owner Balances US-China Pressures
France Implements Nationwide Outdoor Smoking Ban to Protect Children
German Chancellor Merz Keeps Putin Guessing on Missile Strategy
Mandelson Criticizes UK's 'Fetish' for Abandoning EU Regulations
British Fishing Boat Owner Fined €30,000 by French Authorities
Dutch government falls as far-right leader Wilders quits coalition
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Taylor Swift Gains Ownership of Her First Six Albums
Bangkok Ranked World's Top City for Remote Work in 2025
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
×