Company, , and GlaxoSmithKline () have entered a partnership to analyse a combination of two therapies in low-risk patients with mild to moderate Covid-19.

Under this development, monoclonal antibodies from separate companies will come together for the first time to study potential outcomes.

Lilly dosed the first patient in its expanded BLAZE-4 trial to assess the combination of two neutralising antibodies, bamlanivimab (LY-CoV555) 700mg and VIR-7831 (or GSK4182136) 500mg.

Developed by Lilly and AbCellera, bamlanivimab is directed against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and can potentially stop viral attachment and entry into human cells.

VIR-7831 is being advanced by Vir and GSK and is a dual-action monoclonal antibody that could stop viral entry into healthy cells, as well as clear infected cells.

Eli Lilly chief scientific officer and Lilly Research Laboratories president Daniel Skovronsky said: 鈥淲ith a virus-like SARS-CoV-2, it鈥檚 expected that variants could emerge that require new therapeutic options, which is why Lilly is studying bamlanivimab together with other neutralising antibodies, including etesevimab.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile 鈥 free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

鈥淎dding VIR-7831 to our study is an important part of our commitment to developing therapies to treat current and future strains of Covid-19 until vaccines are widely available and utilised.鈥

The ongoing, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled BLAZE-4 study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of bamlanivimab alone and with other neutralising antibodies including VIR-7831 as compared with placebo for treating symptomatic Covid-19 in the outpatient setting.

Last October, Eli Lilly entered into a $375m agreement with the US government to supply 300,000 vials of bamlanivimab 700mg.

In a separate development, signed an agreement with to support manufacturing and supply of the latter鈥檚 Covid-19 vaccine co-developed with .

To produce 125 million doses of the vaccine in Europe, Sanofi will extend access to its established infrastructure and expertise to BioNTech.

The company noted that the initial supplies will come from its production facilities in Frankfurt, Germany, from June.