London, 16 March (EFE) .- The British pharmacy AstraZeneca announced on Tuesday an agreement with the United States to send an additional 500,000 doses of a possible treatment against covid with antibodies, which, if authorized, could protect women from the virus . cannot be vaccinated.
In a statement, the company explained that the pact with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Defense extends another October 2020 agreement whereby the United States received 100,000 initial doses of the drug “AZD7442”, with option to buy more in 2021 and pledged to support the final phase of clinical trials.
With the additional 500,000 doses announced today and 100,000 more in parallel with the Defense, AstraZeneca could supply Washington with up to 700,000 doses of the drug in 2021, the note said.
“The combination of long-term antibodies has the potential to provide almost immediate protection to those who cannot be vaccinated, both to prevent infection and to treat the disease in already infected patients,” said the pharmaceutical company’s CEO. Pascal Soirot. .
“The support of the United States government is essential to accelerate the development of AZD7442, which we believe will be an important tool in the fight against covid-19,” he added.
The drug, which was designed to reduce the resistance of the strongest variants of the virus, is currently being tested in clinical trials with 9,000 volunteers in different parts of the world, the statement said.
AstraZeneca notes that the total value of agreements with the US government for the development and supply of AZD7442 in 2021 amounts to approximately $ 726 million. EFE
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