WHO RECOMMENDS ANTIBODY TREATMENT

The World Health Organization (WHO) updated its COVID-19 treatment guidelines to add the antibody cocktail made by Regeneron.

The recommendation, issued on Friday and based off of experimental trials, encourages the two antibodies produced by Regeneron — casirivimab and imdevimab — be used on COVID-19 patients “who are non-severe and at higher risk for hospitalization.”

It is the first drug against COVID-19 the WHO has recommended for use in non-severe high-risk patients to reduce the chances of the disease progressing.

Due to the treatment’s high cost and limited availability, the WHO is negotiating with companies and urged Regeneron to lower the price. WHO said it is working with humanitarian organizations to ensure the drug is produced at lower costs and becomes available to all in need, including in low- and middle-income countries where access to the treatment is difficult.