Phase 2 dose-ranging study of the virologic efficacy and safety of the combination COVID-19 antibodies casirivimab and imdevimab in the outpatient setting
Background: The monoclonal antibody combination casirivimab and imdevimab (REGEN-COV®) reduced viral load, hospitalisation, or death when administered 1:1 as an intravenous (IV) dose ≥1200 mg in a phase 3 COVID-19 outpatient study. Availability of subcutaneous (SC) and/or lower IV doses should increase accessibility and/or drug supplies for patients. Methods: This is a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of SARS-CoV-2-infected outpatients who were asymptomatic, or symptomatic but without risk factors for severe COVID-19. Patients were randomised to single IV dose (517 patients) of REGEN-COV 300, 600, 1200 or 2400 mg or placebo; or a single SC dose (286 patients) of REGEN-COV 600 or 1200 mg or placebo. The primary endpoint was time-weighted average daily change from baseline (TWACB) in viral load from day 1 (baseline) through day 7 in patients seronegative to SARS-CoV-2 at baseline. Findings: All REGEN-COV treatments showed significant (p<0.001 versus pooled placebo) virologic reduction through day 7. Least-squares mean differences in TWACB viral load for the treatments versus placebo ranged from –0·56 to –0.71 log10 copies/mL. Each REGEN-COV treatment showed significant (p<0.001 versus pooled placebo) and similar virologic reduction through day 7. There were no safety concerns, dose-related safety findings, grade ≥2 infusion related/hypersensitivity reactions, grade ≥3 injection-site reactions, nor fatalities. Two serious adverse events not related to COVID-19 or the study drug were reported. Interpretation: In asymptomatic and low-risk symptomatic SARS-CoV-2-infected outpatients seronegative for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 at baseline, REGEN-COV significantly and comparably reduced viral load at all IV and SC doses.