Glaxo starts key Covid-19 antibody trial

The government has signed a deal with Glaxosmithkline and Sanofi, of France, for 60 million doses of a potential Covid-19 vaccine
The government has signed a deal with Glaxosmithkline and Sanofi, of France, for 60 million doses of a potential Covid-19 vaccine
DAVID CHESKIN/PA

Glaxosmithkline is aiming for an antibody coronavirus treatment to be available as soon as the first half of next year after starting a trial of 1,300 patients last week.

The trial is in partnership with Vir Biotechnology, the Nasdaq-listed company in which Glaxo took a $250 million stake this year.

The study, called Comet-Ice, will investigate the safety and efficacy of the antibody therapy in preventing patients with mild or moderate Covid-19 needing hospital treatment. The first patient was given a dose last week and the trial could involve people in Britain.

It is hoped that the initial results will be available before the end of the year, with the complete findings to follow in the first quarter of 2021. It could mean early