Covid-19: setback for AstraZeneca in its trials of a treatment against severe forms

The idea has not been proven.

The Swedish-British laboratory AstraZeneca announced on Monday that its treatment for diabetes Farxiga is not effective in treating patients with severe form of Covid-19, according to the first results of clinical trials.

The Farxiga trial "has not reached a statistical level sufficient" to prevent mortality, the group said in a statement.

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These are the first results of the so-called phase 3 clinical trial conducted with 1,250 people, in collaboration with the American institute specializing in cardiovascular diseases Saint Luke's Mid America.

The objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of Farxiga on patients hospitalized with Covid-19 and who are at risk of developing complications, in particular those who already have other pathologies such as hypertension, diabetes or diseases of the heart or kidney.

Full trial results will be released in May.

Antibody therapy trials

This is a new setback for AstraZeneca, whose vaccine against Covid-19 also raises many questions, in particular with possible side effects such as cases of blood clots.

Some countries have stopped using the vaccine, while others are setting age limits.

For example, it is reserved for over 30s in the United Kingdom, where it has been used extensively.

The distribution of serum is furthermore disrupted and suffers regular delays, as was again the case last week in the European Union.

AstraZeneca is also developing an antibody treatment against Covid-19, the latest trials of which are underway worldwide.

The US government has funded the development of this drug and the group plans to deliver up to 700,000 doses to the US this year.