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British scientists are testing a new antibody treatment that could immediately prevent someone infected with the coronavirus from developing COVID-19, The Guardian reported on Friday.
So far, the treatment has been reported to have been tested in 10 people. Scientists hope it will protect those receiving the drug from developing COVID-19 over a period of six months to a year.
According to the report, the drug could be used as an instant treatment for someone potentially exposed to the virus. The report said the treatment could be implemented in nursing facilities as soon as a case of the virus is discovered, thus protecting residents.
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The drug was developed as part of a joint project between the University College London (UCLH) hospitals and the pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, which has also developed a coronavirus vaccine together with the University of Oxford.
The offices of the British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca PLC in Macclesfield, England, on July 21, 2020 (Paul Ellis / AFP)
Instead of using antibodies made by the body to fight an infection, the new treatment uses monoclonal antibodies created in the laboratory.
The treatment is designed to block the binding of the virus to human cells, thus blocking infection.
Dr. Catherine Houlihan, a virologist at UCLH and director of the “Storm Chaser” study on the drug, told the newspaper that if the treatment was found to be effective, it would be a valuable tool to add to treatments and vaccines. already developed.
“To date, we have injected 10 participants (staff, students, and others) who were exposed to the virus at home, in a healthcare setting, or in student residences,” Houlihan said, adding that this would now be followed by close to the participants.
According to Sky News, the test aims to recruit 1,125 participants from around the world.
“If we can show that this treatment works and prevent people exposed to the virus from developing COVID-19, it would be an exciting addition to the arsenal of weapons that are being developed to combat this terrible virus,” Houlihan said.
“The advantage of this drug is that it gives you immediate antibodies,” he said. “We could tell trial participants who have been exposed: yes, they can get vaccinated. But we wouldn’t tell them that that would protect them from disease, because by then it is too late. “
The vaccines developed so far take several weeks to confer immunity to its full extent.
Josephine Faleye (C), 80, is prepared to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine at the Royal Free Hospital in London on December 8, 2020 at the start of the largest vaccination program in UK history ( Jack Hill / POOL / AFP)
In a separate trial, scientists are investigating whether the treatment could protect immunosuppressed people who cannot receive a vaccine or for whom vaccination might be ineffective.
Both trials were entering their third stage of randomized testing in human volunteers.
Dr Richard Jarvis, co-chair of the British Medical Association’s committee for public health medicine, told The Guardian that both trials were interesting, but should be rigorously scrutinized before widespread use of the treatment.
“For the vast majority of the population, vaccination offers the best protection against COVID-19,” Jarvis said. “It will certainly be interesting to see if these trials are effective. But it is important that any new treatment is thoroughly researched, analyzed and, most importantly, safe before we consider its introduction. “
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