Regeneron starts human trials for coronavirus antibody drugs

Details: Regeneron is testing its "antibody cocktail" in four patient groups, according to the company's announcement:

• "Hospitalized COVID-19 patients, non-hospitalized symptomatic COVID-19 patients, uninfected people in groups that are at high-risk of exposure (such as health care workers or first responders) and uninfected people with close exposure to a COVID-19 patient (such as the patient's housemate)."

Between the lines: Regeneron has had some success with this idea of combining antibodies into one treatment as a way to ward off invading diseases — most recently with a treatment for the Ebola virus.

• Eli Lilly similarly is testing its own coronavirus antibody treatment and hopes to get emergency authorization by the fall, Reuters reported.

Yes, but: This is still just the beginning of a phase one trial. We're several months away from knowing whether these treatments are safe and effective against the virus and disease.