AstraZeneca Thursday announced that its COVID-19 antibody drug is 83 percent effective in minimising the risk of symptomatic illness among people. The results are derived after a six-month follow-up study conducted to analyse the effectiveness of the antibody drug.

In line with successful trial results, the drugmaker has been leading global efforts in developing preventive treatments to tackle the impact of Coronavirus.

According to the Anglo-Swedish company, a separate study was conducted in patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 symptoms. The study showed that a higher dose of the AZD7442 therapy helped in cutting the risk of severe infection by at least 88 percent when given to the patients within three days of first symptoms.

Positive results of the latest study have helped AstraZeneca in emerging as a rare supplier of both vaccines and treatments of COVID-19. The drugmaker has affirmed that the antibody therapy must be seen as a "real advantage" in preventing the illness rather than a treatment.