London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Jul 12, 2025

AstraZeneca's logo is reflected in a drop on a syringe needle in this illustration

Britain to become first country to trial AstraZeneca coronavirus antibody treatment

New antibody combination aims to help people with weakened immune systems
A new coronavirus antibody treatment developed by pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca will begin clinical trials for the first time in the UK.

A volunteer from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, will become the first person in the world to receive the company’s new “antibody cocktail”, which is aimed at people with a weakened immune system who cannot be vaccinated.

The clinical trial programme will test whether the treatment will prevent Covid-19 for up to a year. It will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a combination of two long-acting monoclonal antibodies, which are man-made proteins that act like natural human antibodies in the immune system.

5,000 volunteers will be recruited into the trial, including 1,000 people from nine sites in the UK.

Sir Mene Panaglos, executive vice president of biopharmaceutical research and development at AstraZeneca, said: “There is going to be a significant number of people - even in a world where vaccines are highly effective - who will not respond to vaccines, or in fact will not take vaccines.

“So having monoclonal antibodies as potential therapeutics is also important.”

He called for people, especially vulnerable people over the age of 60 who are immuno-suppressed, to sign up to the trial. These will include people from health care and care home settings.

The UK Government agreed in principle to secure access to one million doses of the antibody treatment, dubbed AZD7442, if it produces successful results in the phase three trials.

Kate Bingham, chairwoman of the UK’s Vaccine Taskforce, said the treatment will be part of the UK’s Covid protection portfolio.

“So, obviously, vaccines work in people who have a functional immune system,” she said. “[But] if you are immuno-suppressed, and you are going through bone marrow transplants, or indications or treatments that actually reduce your ability to mount an immune response, then this is basically the only current way of providing that short-term passive immunity.

“So we are absolutely looking to protect those people who are immuno-suppressed or those people who need immediate protection, because you will remember that vaccines typically take about six weeks to work.”

The NHS Vaccine Research Registry, which comprises a list of 340,000 volunteers willing to take part in clinical trials, will provide some patients for AstraZeneca’s trial.

Sir Mene explained that the two antibodies have been engineered with a life-extension technology to make them effective for longer.

Scientists think the combination will provide protection for at least six months, but closer to 12 months. He described it as a “passive vaccination”.

It is unclear how much the treatment will cost, but Sir Mene said it will be “more expensive than vaccines”, adding: “We hope to make it cost-effective.”

Alok Sharma, the business aecretary, said in a statement: “I am very proud that the UK is the first country in the world to begin this invaluable study, and that a fifth of trial volunteers will be from Britain - a testament to our fantastic life sciences sector and the willingness of our people to come forward to help others.

“As we move closer to a Covid-19 vaccine, we must keep driving forward clinical trials for new and alternative treatments that protect our vulnerable, particularly those who cannot receive a vaccine.

“That is why we have procured one million doses of AstraZeneca’s long-acting antibody treatment if it meets robust safety and effectiveness standards.”
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Reparations argument crushed
Rainmaker CEO Says Cloud Seeding Paused Before Deadly Texas Floods
A 92-year-old woman, who felt she doesn't belong in a nursing home, escaped the death-camp by climbing a gate nearly 8 ft tall
French Journalist Acquitted in Controversial Case Involving Brigitte Macron
Elon Musk’s xAI Targets $200 Billion Valuation in New Fundraising Round
Kraft Heinz Considers Splitting Off Grocery Division Amid Strategic Review
Trump Proposes Supplying Arms to Ukraine Through NATO Allies
EU Proposes New Tax on Large Companies to Boost Budget
Trump Imposes 35% Tariffs on Canadian Imports Amid Trade Tensions
Junior Doctors in the UK Prepare for Five-Day Strike Over Pay Disputes
US Opens First Rare Earth Mine in Over 70 Years in Wyoming
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
Bitcoin Reaches New Milestone of $116,000
Biden’s Doctor Pleads the Fifth to Avoid Self-Incrimination on President’s Medical Fitness
Grok Chatbot Faces International Backlash for Antisemitic Content
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
×