Trump’s Covid-19 Treatment is Regeneron’s Unapproved Antibody Drug

The drugs aim to give that protection immediately, by supplying concentrated versions of one or two antibodies that worked best against the coronavirus in lab and animal tests.

Regeneron’s drug contains two antibodies to enhance the chances that it will work. The company previously developed a successful Ebola treatment from an antibody combo.

What's known so far

The drug is given as a one-time treatment through an IV.

In multiple studies, Regeneron is testing it both for preventing infection and in people already infected, like Trump, to try to prevent serious illness or death.

Earlier this week, Regeneron said partial results from about 275 Covid-19 patients who were not sick enough to need hospitalization suggested it might be cutting how long symptoms last and helping reduce the amount of virus patients harbor.

However, the study has not been completed, the results were only announced in a company news release and have not been published or reviewed by other scientists.

Trump's other treatments

Trump’s physician, Dr. Sean Conley, said late Friday that Trump had also been given the antiviral drug remdesivir at the military hospital.

The Gilead Sciences drug has been shown to help some Covid-19 patients recover faster.

Read also: AstraZeneca Covid-19 Vaccine Under US Investigation Over Safety

Earlier, Conley said Trump also was taking zinc, vitamin D, an antacid called famotidine, melatonin and aspirin. None of those have been proven to be effective against Covid-19.

Trump apparently is not receiving hydroxychloroquine, a drug he widely promoted that has been shown in many studies to be ineffective for preventing or treating Covid-19. 

(Writer: Marilynn Marchione)

Source: https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-donald-trump-archive-d2c6ac6876be3e21e1cbc458e4866633