Researchers have found the monoclonal antibody for SARS-CoV-2

Oct, 2021 - By SMI

The monoclonal antibody targets the SARS spike protein and neutralizes all types of mutations identified including the delta variant.

The newly discovered antibody was extracted from lymphocytes of COVID-19 patients participating in the ImmunoCoV research, which is being conducted by CHUV's Service of Immunology and Allergy. The antibody is among the most potent anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies discovered to date. The antibody's structural analysis suggests that it binds to a region of the spike protein that has not been mutated. The antibody prevents the spike protein from attaching to cells that express the ACE2 receptor, which is the receptor used by the virus to reach and infect lung tissue. The antibody prevents viral replication, allowing the person's immune system to remove SARS-CoV-2 from the body. In vivo studies in rats demonstrated this defense function; specimens treated with the antibody were safeguarded against infection even after receiving a highly contagious dose.

The novel antibody is intended to have a long-lasting effect on people in addition to its antiviral capabilities. A normal unmodified antibody protects for up to 3-4 weeks. This new one, on the other hand, can defend patients for 4-6 months. As a result, it's an intriguing preventive-treatment approach for unvaccinated at-risk people or vaccinated people who cannot develop an immune reaction. Immunocompromised individuals, organ transplant patients, and cancer patients might be protected against SARS-CoV-2 by getting antibody injections two or 3 times a year.

Through collaboration and intellectual property agreements, CHUV and EPFL want to expand on these promising discoveries in collaboration with a start-up business that will undertake clinical development and manufacture of the antibody-containing medication. The drug's clinical trials are expected to commence in late 2022. The development of this novel antibody represents a significant advancement in the battle against COVID-19. It paves the way for better therapies for severe types of the disease as well as improved preventive measures, particularly for individuals with compromised immune systems. This antibody, meanwhile, is not meant to replace COVID-19 vaccinations, which remain the most efficient approach to avoid illness.