Holy Cross Health recently announced that it is recruiting and treating patients in a clinical research study to evaluate the safety and effectiveness an antibody therapy called LY-CoV555 in patients with early mild to moderate COVID-19. The BLAZE-1 Study seeks adults ages 18 or older who have recently tested positive for COVID-19 and are not hospitalized.

According to a Holy Cross press release, “LY-CoV555 is an antibody therapy engineered from one of the first individuals to recover from COVID-19, which may help newly diagnosed patients clear the SARS-CoV-2 virus faster. Laboratory studies have shown that LY-CoV555 binds with high affinity to the SARS-CoV-2 virus and neutralizes its ability to infect cells and replicate.”

The study’s principal investigator, Dr. Joshua Purow of Holy Cross Research Institutes, emphasizes that clinical trials like BLAZE-1 are “vital in testing potential treatments for COVID-19 which, if successful, represent medicines which can be used to protect those most at risk of severe illness, such as the elderly and immunocompromised.”

To be eligible for the BLAZE-1 Study, participants must have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection within three days prior to the study drug infusion, and have one or more mild or moderate COVID-19 symptoms, including, fever, cough, sore throat, headache, muscle pain, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or shortness of breath when active. If a person is eligible and decides to participate, the research staff at Holy Cross Health will perform specific tests and procedures to monitor the patient’s health and how their body reacts to the LY-CoV555 antibody treatment. These tests and procedures include physical exams, vital sign measurements, blood samples, and nasopharyngeal swabs to measure levels of virus.

If someone has tested positive and exhibited symptoms for COVID-19, and is interested in participating in clinical research in their area, call 833.277.0197 or visit JoinCOVIDStudy.com to learn more.