Monoclonal Antibody Therapy For Covid 19

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Introduction

When the pandemic situation of covid 19 has begun, there was no specific treatment for covid 19. However, since then the FDA has approved the Emergency Use Authorization(EUA) for treatment of covid 19 with several monoclonal antibody therapies.

During the first eight months of an outbreak, there was very little that doctor could do so for those who tested positive for Covid 19 but did not need to be hospitalized- beyond a wait and see approach, said Dr Howard J. Haung explains the medical director of the Houston Methodist Lung Transplant Center. ” If a person’s symptom becomes severe, we can then manage and treat the resulting complications with oxygen therapy and other methods. But the ideal situation is to prevent the severe symptoms from developing first.

Now the physicians have a therapy called “Monoclonal Antibody Therapy”  to prevent severe symptoms from developing in those who are at high risk.

What Is Monoclonal Antibody?

Monoclonal Antibody treatment is the most promising treatment for mild to moderate covid 19 caused by the SARS-CoV-2.  Monoclonal antibodies are similar to antibodies in your body but are preferred because of their strong ability to fight viruses. They are formulated like medicine and help your body fight disease. In 2020, the food and drug Administration authorized emergency use to allow monoclonal antibodies as a treatment option for Covid-19.

How Do Monoclonal Antibodies Work?

The body’s immune system produces antibodies as a reliable defence against foreign molecules. The scientific term for such unfamiliar molecules is an antigen. Molecule of bacteria and viruses can act as antigens forming antibodies.

Antibodies bind to antigens. It is said to kill pathogens that invade special cells of the immune system. Most people who recover from covid-19 produce antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Scientists have found that these antibodies persist for at least 5-7 months after infection.

Monoclonal antibodies are identical replicas of reliable source antibodies that target a specific antigen. Scientists can make monoclonal antibodies by exposing the white blood cells to specific antigens. They can then select a single white blood cell or clone and use it as a basis for making multiple identical copies of monoclonal antibodies.

covid19.med.wustl.edu

Monoclonal antibodies therapy also called monoclonal antibody infusion treatment that is a way of treating covid -19. The main objective of this treatment is to prevent hospitalizations, reduce viral loads and reduce the severity of symptoms. After entering the human body, monoclonal antibodies detect the spike protein that area attached to the outer layer of coronavirus. When monoclonal antibodies connect to the spike protein. They can prevent the ability of the virus to enter the cell and reduce the infection.

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How Effective Are Monoclonal Antibodies

According to a study in the New England Journal Of Medicine, preliminary clinical data show that monoclonal antibodies can successfully slow down the rate of hospitalization of covid 19 patients. These clinical data have shown that these treatments can reduce hospital admission. Monoclonal Antibody treatment also can reduce the viral load in the blood of an infected person.

Analysis of UPMC patients receiving monoclonal antibodies found that treatment significantly reduced the risk of hospitalization and death from covid 19.

Health officials continue to monitor the safety and effectiveness of treatment, and clinical trials are ongoing.

References:

www.medicalnewstoday.com

www.upmc.com