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* Study to test safety of combination of two monoclonal
antibodies
* Company joins Regeneron, Lilly and Roche in testing the
approach
* Could be looked at to both prevent and treat COVID-19
* U.S. gave $24 million for development earlier this year
* AstraZeneca shares rise 1% after announcement
(Adds executive quote, context and shares)
By Pushkala Aripaka and Aakash B
Aug 25 (Reuters) - British drugmaker AstraZeneca has
begun testing an antibody-based cocktail for the prevention and
treatment of COVID-19, adding to recent signs of progress on
possible medical solutions to the disease caused by the novel
coronavirus.
The London-listed firm, already among the leading players in
the global race to develop a successful vaccine, said the study
would evaluate if AZD7442, a combination of two monoclonal
antibodies (mAbs), was safe and tolerable in up to 48 healthy
participants between the ages of 18 and 55 years.
If the UK-based early-stage trial, which has dosed its
participants, shows AZD7442 is safe, AstraZeneca said it would
proceed to test it as both a preventative treatment for COVID-19
and a medicine for patients who have it, in larger,
mid-to-late-stage studies.
AstraZeneca shares were up about 1% at 87 pounds ($114) in
early trading.
Development of mAbs to target the virus, an approach already
being tested by Regeneron, ELi Lilly, Roche
and Molecular Partners, has been endorsed by
leading scientists.
mAbs mimic natural antibodies generated in the body to fight
off infection and can be synthesised in the laboratory to treat
diseases in patients. Current uses include treatment of some
types of cancers.
U.S. infectious diseases expert Anthony Fauci has called
them "almost a sure bet" against COVID-19, and AstraZeneca in
June received $23.7 million in funding from U.S. government
agencies to advance development of antibody-based treatments for
COVID-19.
"This combination of antibodies, coupled to our proprietary
half-life extension technology, has the potential to improve
both the effectiveness and durability of use in addition to
reducing the likelihood of viral resistance," said Astra's
executive vice president of biopharmaceuticals R&D Mene
Pangalos.
Though vaccines are at the heart of the long-term fight
against the pandemic, alternative treatments are also being
advanced, and the United States on Sunday authorized use of
recovered COVID-19 patients' plasma to treat those who are ill.
The Financial Times reported at the weekend that President
Donald Trump's administration was considering a fast-tracked
approval of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine before November's
elections.
($1 = 0.7641 pounds)
(Reporting by Pushkala Aripaka and Aakash Jagadeesh Babu in
Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber and Patrick Graham)
