COVID-19 Roundup: Contradictory Evidence, Seasonality, Neutralizing Antibody
New Research Contradicts Previous Study
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati have conducted a study using the same parameters but on a much larger scale as a Chinese study from early in the pandemic, and have found “completely different findings,” according to a press release.
In their study, the researchers were expecting to find elevated angiotensin II levels among the 190 patients with COVID-19. Instead, they observed normal levels of the peptide.
“We could not reproduce the data that came out of China,” said Stefanie Benoit, MD, co-author of the study. “Our data is completely different, in the same patient population, measured at the same time, measured in the same laboratory technique. That small study is what all of this was built off of. It’s kind of a warning or reminder that we are doing things now in ways they’ve never been done before, so we have to be thoughtful about when data comes out, what it means and how we use it.”
Seasonality of COVID-19
A new review used data on the seasonality of respiratory viruses and characteristics of the current virus to attempt to address whether SARS-CoV-2 will become a recurring, circulating infection.
They concluded that “without public health interventions, SARS-CoV-2 will continue to spread in summer as witnessed in many countries around the world. Nonetheless, as the population herd immunity is attained through natural infections and/or vaccinations then the effective reproduction number is expected to drop substantially making the virus more prone to seasonal fluctuations.”
Neutralizing Antibody
Lilly has released proof of concept data from an interim analysis of a neutralizing antibody (LY-CoV555) which resulted in reduced rate of hospitalization for patients with COVID-19.
Participants in the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 study were randomly assigned to receive either placebo or LY-CoV555 in 3 doses: 700 mg, 2800 mg, and 7000 mg. Overall, the primary endpoint of change from baseline viral load at day 11 was met at the 2800 dose level but not in the other dose levels. Treatment with LY-CoV555 ws associated with improved viral clearance at day 3 and a reduction in the number of patients with persistently high viral loads at later times.
"These interim data from the BLAZE-1 trial suggest that LY-CoV555, an antibody specifically directed against SARS-CoV-2, has a direct antiviral effect and may reduce COVID-related hospitalizations," said Daniel Skovronsky, MD, PhD, president of Lilly Research Laboratories. "The results reinforce our conviction that neutralizing antibodies can help in the fight against COVID-19."
—Michael Potts
References:
- UC research produces different results from key China COVID-19 investigation. News release. University of Cincinnati; September 17, 2020. Cincinnati, Ohio. https://www.uc.edu/news/articles/2020/09/university-of-cincinnati-research-finds-different-outcome-from-key-china-covid-19-study.html
- Audi A, Allbrahim M, Kaddoura M, et al. Seasonality of respiratory viral infections: will COVID-19 follow suit? Published online September 15, 2020. Front Public Health. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2020.567184
- Lilly announces proof of concept data for neutralizing antibody LY-CoV555 in the COVID-19 outpatient setting. News release. Lilly;September 16, 2020. Indianapolis, Indiana. https://investor.lilly.com/news-releases/news-release-details/lilly-announces-proof-concept-data-neutralizing-antibody-ly