SARS-CoV-2 is the contributing agent of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that, as of 29 September 2020, has resulted in a high death toll to date. Unlike the majority of coronaviruses that cause mild disease in humans and animals, SARS-CoV-2 can replicate in the lower respiratory tract to cause acute respiratory distress syndrome and fatal pneumonia.

Effective interventions to prevent or treat COVID-19 remain limited and clinical experience is narrow. Clinical management is restricted to supportive care, consequently overwhelming resources of healthcare systems around the world. As a response to the ongoing pandemic, AstraZeneca is developing mAbs (a type of immunotherapy) to the SARS-CoV-2 S protein.

The SARS-CoV-2 spike protein contains the virus's receptor-binding domain, which is a critical component of the viral spike protein; and enables the virus to bind to receptors on human cells. By targeting this region of the virus's spike protein, antibodies can block the virus's attachment to human cells and therefore is expected to block infection.

Due to the growing prevalence of new variants, it is imperative to develop a treatment to help immunocompromised patients against the effects of COVID-19 (and new COVID-19 variants). This study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of AZD3152; and administration to prevent and/or treat COVID-19.

Recruitment has already begun, and the clinical trials team has 130 patients undergoing eligibility screening, with a target of approximately 150 participants. The trial was formally activated in July with our Clinical Trials Team Manager, Jarod Horobin and Senior Ethics & Start-Up Coordinator, Bibin George, attending AstraZeneca's SUPERNOVA APAC Investigator Meeting in Malaysia. The first patient was recruited on July 7. The ongoing funding from our loyal PBI community has been a major factor in our successful site selection for the AstraZeneca SUPERNOVA trial. This trial could be instrumental in helping immunocompromised patients to manage the effects of COVID-19.