WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Novant Health is testing a drug on severely to critically sick COVID-19 patients to see if it helps treat them.
Biotech company CytoDyn developed an antibody called “leronlimab” that fights viruses and illnesses.
President and CEO of CytoDyn Dr. Nader Pourhassan said Phase 2 of the trial tested mild to moderate COVID-19 patients, and now the FDA gave the company clearance to initiate Phase 2b/3, which tests the same drug on severely to critically ill COVID-19 patients
Pourhassan said the feedback from physicians and patients is very promising.
“We saw how patients were able to extubate when they were intubated. We really feel comfortable to say that we really helped their situation big time,” Pourhassan emphasized.
He explained these phases are double-blinded so the results are not known yet.
Pourhassan is hoping by mid-June the company can un-blind the study and make the results public, which he said will hopefully come with an FDA approval for a COVID-19 treatment.