Two major drugmakers have linked up to tackle the global health crisis.

Swiss firm Roche will add its manufacturing muscle to U.S. company Regeneron's bid to create an antibody cocktail.

On Wednesday (August 19), the companies said that if the drug won approval from regulators, Regeneron would handle U.S. sales, while Roche took care of worldwide distribution.

Roche has one of the world's largest antibody production operations, and would boost capacity for the drug by at least three and a half times.

The companies will fund and run ongoing studies together.

The medicine combines one Regeneron-made antibody and a second antibody isolated from humans who recovered during the health crisis.

Regeneron expects data from its new drug in humans next month.

Previous tests showed it prevented and treated the disease in macaques and hamsters.

Roche's own drug failed in a trial.

Roche shares were up around 2 percent by midafternoon.