Celltrion unveils inhalable antibody for COVID-19 patients

Inhalon Biopharma, Inc., a US-based clinical-stage immunotherapy company developing an inhaled ‘muco-trapping’ antibody platform for treating a variety of acute respiratory infections, has announced that it is partnering with South Koreabased Celltrion, Inc. to develop IN-006, an inhaled form of regdanvimab, for treating patients with COVID-19. Regdanvimab will be the first antibody to be nebulised and inhaled against COVID-19 that has already demonstrated efficacy in a previous phase III study. This route of administration will allow patients to self-administer treatment in the convenience of their own homes. Inhalon’s mucotrapping antibody platform directly traps the virus in airway mucus, preventing the local spread of the infection, and quickly eliminating the virus from the lungs through the body’s natural ability to clear mucus. Inhaled therapy can be readily self-administered by patients, extend critical drug supplies to more patients by reducing the dosage needed, and does not place excessive demands on healthcare staff and infusion clinic space that intravenous (IV) drugs do.