Roche and Regeneron Laboratories announce partnership against Covid-19

The Swiss pharmaceutical laboratory Roche announced on Wednesday (19) an agreement with the American group Regeneron for the manufacture and distribution of a treatment against Covid-19 that is in the final phase of clinical trials.
"Roche and Regeneron announce a union of forces in the fight against Covid-19 to develop, manufacture and distribute REGN-COV2, a combination of Regeneron's experimental antiviral antibodies, to people around the world," a statement from the Swiss group said.
REGN-COV2, the Regeneron drug that combines two antibodies, is currently in phase 2/3 of clinical trials for the treatment and prevention of Covid-19 infection.
As part of the agreement, if REGN-COV2 "proves safe and effective in clinical trials and receives regulatory authorizations," Roche will assume distribution outside the United States (Regeneron will distribute on U.S. territory).
The agreement will increase regn-VOC2 production capacity by more than three times, according to roche laboratory. The groups have already started the process of technology transfer.
The pandemic has caused more than 775,000 deaths worldwide since December 2019, according to an AFP report based on official country data.