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 tested on 10 subjects. Scientists hope it will protect those receiving the drug from developing COVID-19 for 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 states that treatment can be implemented in nursing facilities as soon as a case of the virus is discovered, potentially protecting residents.
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The drug was developed as part of a joint project between University College London Hospitals (UCLH) and pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, which also developed a coronavirus vaccine together with Oxford University.
The offices of the British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca PLC in Macclesfield, England, July 21, 2020. (Paul Ellis / AFP)
Instead of using antibodies produced by the body to fight infection, the new treatment uses monoclonal antibodies created in the laboratory.
The treatment is designed to block the virus from binding to human cells, thereby blocking infection.
Dr. Catherine Houlihan, a virologist at UCLH, who leads 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.
“So far we have injected 10 participants – employees, students and others – who have been exposed to the virus at home, in a health setting or in student rooms,” said Houlihan, adding that the participants would now be closely monitored.
According to Sky News, the purpose of the test is to recruit 1,125 participants from around the world.
“If we can prove 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 being developed to combat this terrible virus,” said Houlihan.
“The advantage of this medication is that it provides immediate antibodies,” she said. “We could tell the trial participants that they were exposed: yes, you can get the vaccine. But we would not be telling them that it would protect them from illness, because it is too late. “
Vaccines developed so far take several weeks to confer full immunity.
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 ever undertaken in the United Kingdom (Jack Hill / POOL / AFP)
In a separate trial, scientists are investigating whether the treatment can protect immunocompromised people who cannot receive a vaccine or for whom vaccination may be ineffective.
Both trials were entering their third stage of randomized testing on human volunteers.
Dr Richard Jarvis, co-chairman of the British Medical Association’s public health committee, told the Guardian that both tests were interesting, but would need to be rigorously examined before widespread use of the treatment.
“For the vast majority of the population, vaccination offers the best protection against COVID-19,” said Jarvis. “It will certainly be interesting to see if these tests are effective. But it is important that any new treatments are thoroughly researched, examined and, most importantly, safe before considering their introduction. “