The University of Wisconsin (UW) School of Medicine and Public Health and UW Health will conduct three clinical trials to test a new treatment and preventative for COVID-19, in collaboration with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals. The school will use its companion health system UW Health as a trial site to evaluate an “antibody cocktail,” dubbed REGN-COV2, created by the Tarrytown, New York-based pharmaceutical company. To create REGN-COV2, Regeneron scientists selected virus-neutralizing antibodies produced from mice that have been genetically modified to simulate a human immune system, as well as antibodies identified from humans who have recovered from COVID-19, according to Regeneron. The experimental antibodies interact with the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 virus’s spike (S) protein and block viral interaction with human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), which is the cell-surface protein the virus docks with during infection. The three trials include: an adaptive Phase 1, 2, and 3 randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the safety and efficacy in hospitalized patients with COVID-19; an adaptive Phase 1, 2, and 3 randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the safety and efficacy in non-hospitalized patients with COVID-19; and a Phase 3 randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the ability of REGN-COV2 to prevent an infection of the virus that causes COVID-19 in people who have been exposed to someone in their household with the disease. UW Health is one of approximately 100 trial sites for REGN-COV2 in the United States. Recruitment will begin immediately with a goal of enrolling 30 to 50 people per trial at the UW Health site.Login Or Register To Read Full Story