Monoclonal Antibodies: Understand Trump’s Experimental Treatment Against Covid | Coronavirus

Understand how neutralizing monoclonal antibodies work:

• Scientists seek the B lymphocytes from patients that they already had Covid-19;
• Then, they identify the antibodies and do several studies to find out which one can neutralize the virus and thus prevent it from entering human cells;
• In the case of Trump’s treatment, a pair of antibodies was used. Scientists use neutralizing antibody genes and insert into a standardized cell, called a CHO cell;
• With that, the researchers try to create a cocktail with isolated coronavirus antibodies for preventive use or during the course of the disease;
• In Brazil, the Butantan Institute studies a drug with the same methodology. Ana Maria Moro, project coordinator, said that Regeneron’s research is among the most advanced in the world, in the last stages of studies.

This week, Regeneron published new test results. According to the pharmacist, the drug improved the symptoms of Covid-19 patients who did not need to be hospitalized, without side effects. The company also said it plans to contact the FDA, the US regulatory agency, to request authorization for emergency use of the cocktail.

“There is no therapy like this approved yet. But antibodies represent a safe option, once it is identified which neutralizers they are,” said Ana.

On the other hand, Edward Jones-Lopez, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, said in an interview with Reuters that Trump’s doctors “must be concerned enough with what they are seeing to decide to use a experimental drug “. “According to him, experimental drugs are risky by definition.

The American president had to be transferred to a hospital after receiving the diagnosis on Friday (2). According to the United States government, the decision to enter the health unit was taken as a precautionary measure.

According to Kayleigh McEnany, a spokeswoman for the White House, Trump was seen at the Walter Reed Military Medical Center near the capital Washington. Images on US television showed the president walking, without looking more difficult, towards the helicopter that took him to the hospital.