What is Regeneron's REGN-COV2? The experimental Covid drug given to Trump

The experimental coronavirus drug given to Donald Trump is "very promising" and "very potent", a UK doctor involved in a trial of the drug has said.

President Trump was given an artificial antibody treatment REGN-COV2, developed by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, at the White House on Friday after he was diagnosed with Covid-19.

Mr Trump has been given the drug alongside Remdesivir, an antiviral treatment which has been shown to help some coronavirus patients recover faster, as well as zinc, vitamin D, an antacid called famotidine, melatonin and aspirin.

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What is REGN-COV2 and how does it work?

REGN-COV2 is made up of two monoclonal antibodies (REGN10933 and REGN10987), which are man-made to act like human antibodies in the immune system.

It was first tested on mice which were genetically modified to have a human immune system, before being tested on 275 people, of whom 40% were classed as obese.

The antibody cocktail works by binding to a protein on the surface of the virus, stopping it from attaching to cells and replicating, while allowing the immune system to attack the virus.

Regeneron has linked up with the pharmaceutical giant Roche to increase the global supply of REGN-COV2 if it proves effective.

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