NIH Taps Eli Lilly’s COVID-19 Antibody for Two Trials

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) launched two clinical trials yesterday of Eli Lilly’s experimental monoclonal antibody LY-CoV555 for the treatment for COVID-19 patients.

One of the NIH trials is a phase 3 study evaluating LY-CoV555 vs. a placebo in hospitalized mild-to-moderate COVID-19 patients.

The study will enroll 300 participants who will either receive the drug or a placebo in addition to the standard of care, which includes Gilead Sciences’ antiviral remdesivir. If the antibody treatment is shown to be safe and effective, the trial will enroll an additional 700 patients.

NIH has also begun a separate phase 2 study to assess if LY-CoV555 can reduce the duration of symptoms through day 28 and increase the number of participants with undetectable virus. It will enroll 220 patients who will either receive an infusion of the drug or a placebo.

If the antibody treatment proves safe and effective, the trial will transition into a phase 3 study in an additional 1,780 patients to determine if LY-CoV555 can prevent hospitalization or death through day 28. — Jordan Williams