BEIJING, Jan. 20 -- Chinese scientists have used a targeted antibody to significantly reduce H7N9 symptoms in monkeys.

The study, published in British medical journal "Clinical Infectious Diseases," demonstrates patients infected with H7N9 virus often end up dead after severe pneumonia and systemic inflammation caused by acute lung infection (ALI).

Part of the high deathrate of H7N9 is due to very limited effective treatment options.

African green monkeys were inoculated with the H7N9 virus and treated intravenously with an antibody. The treatment markedly reduced ALI and systemic inflammation, according to the study.

The results show promising progress on helping treat the virus in humans.

The study was led by Sun Shihui from Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology and Zhao Guangyu from Academy of Military Medical Science.

Since H7N9 avian flu killed three people in China in March 2013, the flu has repeatedly cropped up in winter and spring seasons.

The study said "complement inhibition may be a promising adjunctive therapy for severe viral pneumonia."