Eli Lilly Pauses COVID-19 Antiviral Drug Study, Saying Safety Is Top Concern

Eli Lilly confirmed on Tuesday that it is halting its COVID-19 antiviral drug remdesivir, as well as an experimental antibody being developed by the company.

The company did not say more what led to this decision, but said that study had been postponed "out of abundance of caution," adding that safety is their top priority.

"Safety is of the utmost importance to Lilly. We are aware that, out of an abundance of caution, the ACTIV-3 independent data safety monitoring board (DSMB) has recommended a pause in enrollment," spokeswoman Molly McCully was quoted.

McCully added that Lilly is supportive of the decision by the independent DSMB to ensure the safety of the patients participants in this study.

The U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease sponsors the clinical trial of Lilly's.

The agency would not immediately comment on the issue.

Lilly is testing the experimental antibody with Canadian company AbCellera.

Antibodies are proteins that bodies make when an infection occurs.

U.S. President Donald Trump received an experimental antibody combo drug from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Eli Lilly and Regeneron have both asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to grant emergency use authorization for the said COVID-19 drugs.

This while late stage studies are still being done.

The halted study was called ACTIV-3 and started in August.

Over 10,000 hospitalized COVID-19 patients in the U.S., Denmark, and Singapore are being eyed to included in the study.

All of these patients are given remdesivir, with either the Lilly antibody or placebo.

This COVID-19 antiviral drug, remdesivir, has been granted in the U.S. an emergency treatment.

Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine Trial Paused

The company's news came less than 24 hours after Johnson & Johnson announced that its late-stage COVID-19 vaccine trial has been postponed after one of its participants reported an "adverse event."

Dr. Mathai Mammen, global head of the Janssen research and development arm at J&J, said that the company still have very little information about the reason for the postponement.

This includes if the patient received the vaccine of the placebo.

Mammen added that initial information has been sent to the data safety monitoring board for review.

Meanwhile, medical experts said that putting a pause on COVID-19 vaccine trials is not an uncommon practice.

The experts added that the reaction could be due to an unrelated illness, and not the drug itself.

Mammen said that it may have nothing to do with the vaccine.

Trump on These Treatments

Trump earlier promoted Eli Lilly's treatment and others.

He said that certain drugs are available and that they are "so good."

Trump said in his opining people are going to say these COVID-19 antiviral drugs are therapeutic, and maybe they are therapeutic.

He added that he views it differently, adding that it is a cure.

Trump was earlier diagnosed with COVID-19 together with first lady Melania Trump.

This was after top White House official Hope Hicks announced that she tested positive for the virus.

Trump has been eyeing to return to his presidential campaign trail after postponing campaigning due to his hospitalization.

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