Lilly Clinical Trial Halted... Celltrion's Early Antibody Treatment for Mild Patients Gains Attention

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] As multinational pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly has halted the Phase 3 clinical trial of its COVID-19 antibody treatment, Celltrion's claim that early antibody treatment for mild patients is important is gaining attention.

According to foreign media on the 28th, the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently concluded that Eli Lilly's antibody treatment 'LY-CoV555' does not help treat severe COVID-19 patients, leading Eli Lilly to stop the clinical trial.

However, Eli Lilly is continuing research targeting mild COVID-19 patients. This is to verify whether administering the antibody treatment before the virus deeply penetrates and damages the body can be effective.

Recently, U.S. President Donald Trump used Regeneron's antibody treatment for COVID-19, and Celltrion is also developing a similar monoclonal antibody treatment called 'CT-P59.'

A Celltrion official stated, "Since the COVID-19 virus reaches its peak viral load about one week after infection, the key is to prevent organ damage, which is the main factor leading to severe symptoms, through 'early diagnosis-early treatment' by promptly administering antibody treatment during this period. The news of Eli Lilly's clinical trial halt supports this evidence."