(Reuters) – Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:) Monday announced that a single dosage of the antibody mixture reduced COVID-19 risk by 81.6% over the period of two to eight month following administration of the drug in a late-stage clinical trial.

Myron Cohn, who is responsible for monoclonal antibodies efforts at the U.S. National Institutes of Health sponsored COVID Prevention Network, stated that REGEN COV antibody therapy has the potential of providing long-lasting immunity to COVID-19.

The company stated that such immunity was especially important for people with immunocompromised and others who are not responding to vaccinations.

Prior studies had shown that the therapy reduced risk by 81.4% within the first month.

Regeneron reported that there was no COVID-19-related hospitalizations in the REGENCOV group during the 8-month evaluation period. However, 6 incidents in the placebo groups were noted.

Regen-COV was authorized by the U.S. government in July to be used as preventive treatment for those who are exposed to HIV infected people and high-risk individuals in such settings as hospitals or prisons.

The treatment of mild-to moderate COVID-19 patients was approved in the United States in November.