The first commercial batch of a homegrown COVID-19 neutralizing antibody therapy was rolled out, adding a weapon that is particularly useful for immunocompromised people to the arsenal against the virus. The latest data shows that the therapy is effective against Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5, the two most transmissible variants.

The injectable therapy combines two neutralizing antibodies, called BRII-196 and BRII-198, that are obtained from recovered COVID-19 patients. A global clinical trial demonstrates that it can lead to an 80 percent reduction in hospitalization and death. Compared to small molecule, antiviral drugs, the combination treatment can induce longer protection against the virus and remain potent enough to kill the virus three weeks after injection.

The therapy was granted conditional approval by the National Medical Products Administration in December to treat mild and moderate COVID-19 patients at high risk of developing severe symptoms. Since March, the therapy has been added into National Covid-19 Pneumonia Diagnosis and Treatment Plan (Ninth Trial Version) and the medical reimbursement list.