Celltrion Develops Tailored Neutralising Antibody Cocktail Treatment with CT-P59 to Tackle COVID-19 Variant Spread Using Its Antibody Development Platform

Celltrion Group today announced that CT-P59, an anti-COVID-19 monoclonal antibody treatment candidate, has confirmed neutralising potency against emerging virus mutations and that the company has initiated development of a neutralising antibody cocktail treatment with CT-P59.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) has assessed and independently confirmed that CT-P59 successfully neutralises the SARS-CoV-2 variants first identified in the UK (B.1.1.7) in addition to the previously identified six variant genome mutations of SARS-CoV-2 (variants S·L·V·G·GH·GR). They also added that cocktail therapy of CT-P59 with another monoclonal antibody candidate demonstrated neutralising capability against the UK (B.1.1.7) and South African (B.1.351) variants.

As of 19 January 2021, according to media and official sources, approximately 2,000 cases of the variant VOC 202012/01 (Variant of Concern, year 2020, month 12, variant 01, previously designated VUI, Variant under Investigation) had been identified in 60 countries. In the EU/EEA, about 1,300 cases have been identified in 23 countries. Outside the EU/EEA, approximately 700 cases have been identified in 37 countries.¹

In order to elicit potent neutralising antibodies against the new emerging variants and to minimise lead time for introducing cocktail treatments with CT-P59, Celltrion previously captured a total of 38 potent neutralising antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in which antibody candidate No. 32 produced neutralising titres against new emerging strains in the UK and South Africa. Using an already constructed antibody portfolio and encouraged by confirmed potency on various mutants, Celltrion has commenced the development of a neutralising antibody cocktail with CT-P59 against new emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2.

To date, CT-P59 has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of COVID-19 related hospitalisation and oxygenation up to Day 28, reduce rate of progression to severe COVID-19 by 54% for patients with mild-to-moderate symptoms and 68% for moderate patients aged 50 years and over, and significantly shorten the time to clinical recovery ranging from 3.4 to 6.4 days quicker compared to placebo. A global Phase III clinical trial is currently recruiting and is expected to enroll 1,172 patients with mild-to-moderate symptoms of COVID-19 at more than 10 global sites to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CT-P59.

Global Principal Investigator Professor Adrian Streinu-Cercel, MD, PhD, Professor of Infectious Diseases at the Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania, said, “CT-P59 has demonstrated its ability to shorten time to clinical recovery and reduce rate of progression to severe COVID-19. From the clinical trial, one of my patients with COVID-19 aged 85 and with an underlying condition, has recovered from the virus within 48 hours of being treated with CT-P59. The antibody treatment candidate would be most useful within 3-5 days of testing positive for the virus. This will greatly aid efforts to address the current burden on healthcare systems and resources.”

Notes to Editors:

About Celltrion Healthcare

Celltrion Healthcare is committed to delivering innovative and affordable medications to promote patients’ access to advanced therapies. Its products are manufactured at state-of-the-art mammalian cell culture facilities, designed and built to comply with the US FDA cGMP and the EU GMP guidelines. Celltrion Healthcare endeavours to offer high-quality cost-effective solutions through an extensive global network that spans more than 110 different countries. For more information please visit: https://www.celltrionhealthcare.com/en-us.

About CT-P59 (Regdanvimab)

CT-P59 was identified as a potential treatment for COVID-19 through screening of antibody candidates and selecting those that showed the highest potency in neutralising the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The mutated G-variant strain (D614G variant) was later identified and confirmed to be inactivated by CT-P59. In pre-clinical data the treatment candidate demonstrated a 100-fold reduction in viral load of SARS-CoV-2, as well as a reduction in lung inflammation. Results from the global Phase I clinical trial of CT-P59 demonstrated promising safety, tolerability, antiviral effect and efficacy profile in patients with mild symptoms of COVID-19.²

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENT

Certain information set forth in this press release contains statements related to our future business and financial performance and future events or developments involving Celltrion/Celltrion Healthcare that may constitute forward-looking statements, under pertinent securities laws.

These statements may be identified by words such as “prepares”, “hopes to”, “upcoming”, ”plans to”, “aims to”, “to be launched”, “is preparing, “once gained”, “could”, “with the aim of”, “may”, “once identified”, “will”, “working towards”, “is due”, “become available”, “has potential to”, the negative of these words or such other variations thereon or comparable terminology.

In addition, our representatives may make oral forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on the current expectations and certain assumptions of Celltrion/Celltrion Healthcare's management, of which many are beyond its control.

Forward-looking statements are provided to allow potential investors the opportunity to understand management’s beliefs and opinions in respect of the future so that they may use such beliefs and opinions as one factor in evaluating an investment. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and undue reliance should not be placed on them.

Such forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future performance or result expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

Although forward-looking statements contained in this presentation are based upon what management of Celltrion/Celltrion Healthcare believes are reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Celltrion/Celltrion Healthcare undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management’s estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

References

---

¹ Risk related to the spread of new SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern in the EU/EEA – first update 21 January 2021, European Center for Disease Prevention and Control. [Last accessed February 2021]

² Celltrion Data on file

To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210210006036/en/

Contact information

Holly Barber
hbarber@hanovercomms.com 
+44 (0) 07759 301620

Donna Curran
dcurran@hanovercomms.com
+44 (0) 7984 550312