The world’s first clinical trials of a new way to protect the body against coronaviruses using antibodies have begun in the UK. Ten people who have been in close contact with Covid-19 patients over the past eight days are taking part. Scientists hope that such a therapy can urgently protect people at risk of complications from Covid-19 who have not received a regular coronavirus vaccination – or for whom vaccination is contraindicated. In addition, the new treatment has the theoretical potential to control outbreaks within closed groups of people.
In the trials at University College London hospitals, patients are given two injections of different antibodies against Covid-19. Doctors want to find out whether they can help people avoid infection with the coronavirus – or at least survive the disease without serious symptoms. The technology for this treatment was developed by the international pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca.
The human body only develops immunity within a few weeks of vaccination. This means that if a person has been exposed to an infected person and the virus has entered the body, it is too late to be vaccinated. The new therapy, which uses single-cell monoclonal antibodies, aims to neutralize the coronavirus immediately. It also protects the patient’s body from Covid-19 for one year.
If successful, antibody treatment can be used for people who have been in contact with coronavirus-infected individuals, such as health care workers, hospital patients or nursing home residents. It can also be used to prevent outbreaks of the disease in certain groups of people, such as students living in the same dormitory.
A new therapy can also be prescribed for those suffering from chronic diseases. We explain quickly, simply, and clearly what happened, why it matters, and what happens next. The number of episodes should remain the same. The End of the Story Podcast Advertising Scientists hope to recruit 1,000 volunteers for the trials, and are targeting high-risk areas for the spread of Covid-19, such as dormitories and hospitals. Those who want to participate must prove that they have recently been in contact with people who have tested positive for the coronavirus.
As virologist Katherine Houlihan of University College London explains, during treatment the body receives foreign antibodies and “no longer has to do it on its own. “We know that this combination of antibodies can neutralize the virus. Therefore, we hope to confirm that such a vaccine provides immediate protection against Covid-19 for those who have come into contact with the infected, and to be able to administer the vaccine even if it is too late,” says Houlihan. She says the technology is already being used successfully for people at risk of contracting other viruses, such as rabies or chickenpox in pregnant women.
In addition, University College London hospitals are investigating whether the same antibody therapy can be used as an alternative to conventional vaccination, i.e. to protect the body before it encounters the virus. This can be especially useful for people with immune deficiencies or those undergoing immunosuppressive procedures such as chemotherapy. Patients with diseases that impair the body’s ability to develop immunity after vaccination, such as cancer or HIV, are participating in the trials of a new treatment, says infectious disease specialist Nikki Longley. “We want to provide an effective alternative protection for people who may not be able to rely on a vaccine,” Longley says.
Catherine Houlihan agrees that antibody therapy can be a temporary solution for people with chronic diseases before they can receive regular vaccinations. However, she cautions that this treatment cannot be considered a complete alternative to vaccination. It is also much more expensive, with each dose likely to cost several hundred pounds. The antibody therapy is being tested in several U.S. cities and four other hospitals in the United Kingdom. However, volunteers are currently only being sought in London. The results of two types of clinical trials – for people before and after exposure – are expected in the spring.