The U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave an emergency use authorization to the antibody treatment developed by Vir Biotechnology and GlaxoSmithKline for treating mild-to-moderate coronavirus disease in people aged 12 years and older, Reuters reports.

The antibody drug, Sotrovimab, is not authorized for patients who are hospitalized due to the disease or require oxygen therapy, the health regulator said.

Sotrovimab belongs to a class of drugs called monoclonal antibodies, which mimic natural antibodies that the body generates to fight off infection.

The antibody treatment will be available for patients in the coming weeks, GSK and Vir said, adding that they plan to submit a marketing application to the FDA in the second half of 2021.

Similar therapies by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and Eli Lilly have been authorized for emergency use in the United States.