BOOM7 Jul 2020 07:11
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Regeneron halts one phase III COVID-19 trial while starting two others
July 6, 2020
By Lee Landenberger
Missing the primary endpoint along with key secondary endpoints in a phase III trial of Kevzara (sarilumab), an interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor antibody, for treating COVID-19 patients who need mechanical ventilation caused Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Sanofi SA to halt the study.
Tarrytown, N.Y.-based Regeneron then followed the closing by initiating two late-stage studies, a phase III and a phase II/III, to evaluate REGN-CoV2, a double antibody ****tail for treating and preventing COVID-19.
The stumble produced a good day for Tiziana Life Sciences plc (NASDAQ:TLSA), whose stock rose 9.6% July 6, closing at $7.19 a share. London-based Tiziana is developing its own anti-IL-6 receptor monoclonal antibody, TZLS-501, to be delivered directly into the lungs of a COVID-19 patient using an inhaler or nebulizer. In April, the company filed a patent application to support the treatment.