Eli Lilly-Vir Bamlanivimab-VIR-7831 Combo Reduces Viral Load By 70% In Low-Risk COVID-19 Patients

Eli Lilly And Co LLY, Vir Biotechnology Inc VIR, and GlaxoSmithKline plc GSK have announced topline data from the expanded Phase 2 BLAZE-4 trial evaluating bamlanivimab co-administered with VIR-7831 in low-risk adult patients with mild to moderate COVID-19.

• Results showed that bamlanivimab 700 mg co-administered with VIR-7831 500 mg demonstrated a 70% relative reduction in persistently high viral load at day seven compared to placebo, meeting the primary endpoint.
• Also, the treatment demonstrated a statistically significant reduction compared to placebo in the critical virologic secondary endpoints of mean change from baseline to days three, five, and seven in SARS-CoV-2 viral load.
• No events for the secondary endpoint of COVID-19 related hospitalization or death by day 29 in either study arm were reported.
• One patient (in the treatment arm) visited the emergency room for COVID-19 related symptoms.
• No serious adverse events were seen with the coadministration of bamlanivimab and VIR-7831.
• Last week, the FDA acting commissioner Janet Woodcock said that the U.S. government is not distributing Eli Lilly's bamlanivimab alone in California, Arizona, and Nevada amid prevalent COVID-19 virus variants.
• Price Action: LLY shares are down 0.28% at $184.8, and VIR shares are dow 1.03% at $51 on the last check Monday.