The laboratory-created monoclonal antibodies could be a promising treatment for COVID.
While the pressure to get Americans vaccinated continues across the country, preliminary data has emerged that laboratory-produced monoclonal antibodies could be a treatment for COVID-19.
The pharmaceutical company Regeneron said on Wednesday that its antibody cockle appears to be resisting the British and South African variants.
Researchers at Columbia University and scientists from Regeneron each independently confirmed that the antibodies were successful in neutralizing both variants against which they were tested.
The data are still preliminary and are being evaluated by the peer, but could be a useful tool if new mutations of the virus emerge.
Regeneron’s antibodies have not yet been tested on the Brazilian viral variant. However, Regeneron said he expects the cocktail to remain ‘equally strong’.
Eli Lilly said on Tuesday that the combination of two antibodies is effective in COVID-19 patients at high risk for serious infection, which reduces the risk of hospitalization and death by 70%, according to the results of a final phase trial .
On the same day, Regeneron announced that the monoclonal cocktail showed positive initial results using prophylactic actions, which help ward off the virus in those who may have been exposed to the virus. Regeneron’s chief scientific officer, dr. George Yancopoulos, said he hopes the drug could potentially help break this chain of active infection and transmission.
Eli Lilly also released data last week showing that the antibodies can help prevent disease and prevent outbreaks among nursing homes.
Currently, Regeneron’s cocktail of casirivimab and imdevimab, and Eli Lilly’s single bamlanivimab have received emergency approval from the Food and Drug Administration. It is intended to be used in the early stages of infection for patients aged 65 years and older who are not admitted to hospital, and for those at high risk for serious illnesses to keep them out of hospital. The cocktails should be administered within days after diagnosis and are only for those with moderate to severe symptoms.
The government has spent millions of dollars to make doses available to all who are eligible.
Such therapies can be an important tool in mitigating serious cases, while also relieving the pressure on strained healthcare systems.
Eli Lilly’s news could indicate a major milestone: combined antibodies bamlanivimab and etesevimab, which work together, can be effective against a “wider range” of COVID-19 variants, company representatives said. This can be an essential tool as mutant strains persist.
With the new data in hand, Eli Lilly said he intends to launch global submissions for combination therapy and seek emergency permission to use the single antibody bamlamnivimad as a passive vaccine treatment in nursing homes.
The use of a ‘passive vaccine’ of monoclonal drugs can provide a stop-gap protection, which works immediately against the virus, until enough of the population gets the vaccine needed to achieve herd immunity.
The FDA has yet to review the developments of Eli Lilly and Regeneron from last week to determine if the companies can bring these drugs to market for these new purposes and in these new forms.
The limited authorization under which Eli Lilly and Regeneron currently operate has been extended to infusion centers across the country, with the Department of Health and Human Services building an interactive, national map tool to help determine where monoclonal antibody therapy was recently received and available. for use.
Despite the availability and encouragement of safety and efficacy profiles, the use of therapies in the US was slow and ‘disappointing’ – by the end of 2020, only 20-25% of supply was used.
Apart from a lack of public awareness, a difficult infusion process and staff were an obstacle to the higher use of the therapies: healthcare systems are collapsing, said dr. Janet Woodcock, therapeutic chief for Operation Warp Speed, said mid-January. . Meanwhile, medical staff are needed to administer infusions, even though the ICU is also very much needed.
ABC News’ Sony Salzman and Eric M. Strauss contributed to this report.