China's newly approved medications can reduce COVID-19 hospitalizations, deaths by 80%: expert

(ECNS) -- Two medications for COVID-19 neutralizing antibody combination therapy, the amubarvimab/romlusevimab combination (previously BRII-196/BRII-198 combination) developed by Brii Bio, were approved by the National Medical Products Administration on Wednesday.

The two innovative medications can reduce hospitalizations and deaths of high risk COVID-19 outpatients by 80 percent, according to Zhang Linqi, professor of the School of Medicine at Tsinghua University.

The intended population, based on indications of the medications approved, are those having a mild type of COVID-19. But the medications also work on those at high risk of clinical progression to severe disease and those with diseases including obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes, as long as they are aged over 18 and weigh at least 40kg.

Patients aged 12-18 and weighing at least 40kg can also be treated by the medications with an additional qualification. The antibody can remain inside the body for 9-12 months.

The antibody combination therapy enables the medications to identify different positions of spike proteins in the virus, therefore increasing the therapy's effectiveness, safety and spectrum.

Different colors mark different positions at which various antibodies aim. And the antibody combination can prevent the virus from binding to healthy cells.

Such an antibody combination can increase the medical activity of different antibodies. That's where one advantage of the medication exists.

The two medications can inhibit such mutations and play a significant role in combating mutant viruses.

Compared to single-medication therapy, our combination therapy stands out in medical activity, spectrum and sustainability.

The next step for the research team is to ensure the preventive effect of mAb therapy among people at high risk and with immune deficiency, according to Zhang.