Zydus granted permission for clinical trials of antibody cocktails

New Delhi: The only Indian company Zydus Cadila which claims to have developed neutralising monoclonal antibodies (mAbs)-based cocktail for the treatment of Covid-19 has been given permission to conduct clinical trials by the Subject Expert Committee (SEC) of Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), according to sources.

“SEC gives a recommendation for the Phase I and II clinical trials of Zydus Cadila’s biological therapy ZRC-3308, a cocktail of two SARS-CoV-2-neutralising monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that can emerge as one of the main treatments for mild Covid-19,” the sources said.

These antibodies are made by cloning unique white blood cells. Domestic pharmaceutical major Zydus Cadila sought the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) permission recently to undertake clinical trials.