New Tucson antibody trial aims to prevent COVID spread

A Tucson clinic is conducting two antibody trials.

The first is to lessen COVID symptoms, the second to stop the spread of the disease.

PROVEN WAY TO STOP COVID-19.AN EXCITING NEW ANTIBODY TRIALIS ABOUT TO BEGIN HERE INTUCSON -- THAT HOPES TOPREVENT THE SPREAD OF THECORONAVIRUS.

IT'S BACKED BY A450-MILLION DOLLAR CONTRACTFROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT."THIS WORK IS CRITICAL TOFINDING A CURE OR PREVENTIONFOR COVID.

AND WE HAVE TO DOTHAT IF WE'RE GOING TO GETBACK TO LIFE AS WE KNOW IT."DR. ANITA KOHLI IS THEDIRECTOR OF CLINICAL RESEARCHAT AZ CLINICAL TRIALS INTUCSON.

SHE AND HER TEAM AREWORKING ON A PAIR OF TRIALS.THE FIRST IS ALREADY UNDERWAY-- AND IS OPEN TO ANYONE WHOHAS SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19 --BUT HASN'T BEEN HOSPITALIZED.WORKING WITH REGENERONPHARMACEUTICALS -- KOHLI ANDHER TEAM ARE GIVING THESEPATIENTS AN ANTIBODY TREATMENTIN HOPES OF KEEPING THEM OUTOF THE HOSPITAL.

"THESEANTIBODIES TARGET THATINTERACTION.

HOPEFULLY PREVENTMORE OR FURTHER INFECTION.HOPEFULLY MAKE PEOPLE BETTERIF WE CAN BLOCK THATINTERACTION." DR. KOHLI SAYSTHEY HAVE EIGHT PEOPLE WHO AREINFECTED WITH COVID-19 IN THE"MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY" TRIALHERE IN TUCSON, WITH ROOM FORMORE.

EACH PATIENT IS GIVEN ASINGLE INFUSION -- AND THENMONITORED FOR 30 DAYS.

"WE'REABLE TO GIVE HIGH DOSES OF THECOVER-SPECIFIC ANTIBODIES TOPEOPLE.

WE'RE NOT ABLE TO DOTHAT WITH CONVALESCENT PLASMA.THAT'S WHAT MAKES THIS A MUCHMORE PROMISING THERAPEUTIC."DR. KOHLI AND HER TEAM AREABOUT TO BEGIN A SECOND TRIALWHICH COULD GO A LONG WAY INPREVENTING THE SPREAD OF THECORONAVIRUS.

REGENERON JUSTSIGNED A $450 MILLION FEDERALCONTRACT TO DEVELOP ANTIBODIESAS A COVID-19 PREVENTION.

IT'SPART OF THE GOVERNMENT'S"OPERATION WARP SPEED"PROGRAM.

THE TRIALS IN TUCSONWILL BEGIN WITHIN A WEEK.

"FORTHE PROPHYLAXIS STUDIES, THOSEARE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVINGWITH PEOPLE WHO ARE COVIDPOSITIVE.

THESE ARE STUDIES OFTHE SAME MEDICATIONS TO SEE IFWE CAN PREVENT INFECTION INTHEM." DR. KOHLI IS A BOARDCERTIFIED INFECTIOUS DISEASEPHYSICIAN WHO TRAINED WITH DR.ANTHONY FAUCI AT THE NATIONALINSTITUTES OF HEALTH.

SHE SAYSIT'S BEEN EXCITING BOTHPERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLYTO WORK ON SUCH A MEANINGFULPROJECT, ESPECIALLY IN ONE OFTHE NATION'S COVID HOT SPOTS."THAT'S OUR GOAL TO BRINGCUTTING- EDGE THERAPEUTICSHERE TO TUCSON, WITH EACHITERATION OF WHAT WE FEEL ARETHE MOST PROMISING OF AGENTS."YOU CAN FIND A LINK TO SIGN UPFOR EITHER THE COVID-19TREATMENT STUDY -- OR THECOVID PREVENTION STUDY -- INTHE WEB VERSION OF THIS STORYAT KGUN 9 DOT-COM.WHEN COVID CONCERNS SHUT DOWNTHE