London, 16 March (EFE) .- The British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca announced on Tuesday an agreement with the United States to send an additional 500,000 doses of a possible treatment for covid with antibodies, which, if authorized, could protect people who cannot be vaccinated from viruses.
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 by which the U.S. received 100,000 initial doses of the drug “AZD7442”, with an option to acquire more in 2021, and promised to pay for the last phase of clinical trials.
With the extra 500,000 doses announced today and 100,000 more agreed in parallel with Defense, AstraZeneca could supply Washington with up to 700,000 doses of the drug in 2021, it notes in the note.
“The combination of antibodies with a long-term effect has the potential to offer almost immediate protection to those who cannot be vaccinated, both to prevent infection and to treat the disease in already infected patients,” said the CEO of the pharmacist, Pascal Soirot.
“The support of the U.S. Government is critical to accelerating the development of AZD7442, which we believe will be an important tool in the fight against covid-19,” he added.
The drug, which has been designed to reduce the resistance of the most potent variants of the virus, is currently being evaluated in clinical trials with 9,000 volunteers in various parts of the world, the statement said.
AstraZeneca notes that the total value of the agreements with the US Government for the development and supply of AZD7442 during 2021 amounts to about $ 726 million. EFE
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| K SOC: SOCIETAT-SALUT, SALUT |
| Q: SYS: en-ES: 07002000: Health & Health: Outbreaks & Pests |
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