South Korea has approved drugmaker Celltrion Inc’s antibody Covid-19 treatment for infected adults in high-risk groups or those with severe symptoms, reports Reuters.

Phase III clinical trials showed that the treatment significantly reduced deterioration of Covid-19 symptoms to severe levels and shortened recovery, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said in a statement.

The treatment lowered the rate of high-risk patients developing severe symptoms by 72 per cent and shortened recovery by 4.12 days, the ministry said.

Celltrion said in a separate regulatory filing it plans to apply for emergency use approval and permission for the treatment from each country through continuous discussions with each regulatory agency.