Two new monoclonal antibody outpatient treatments for COVID-19 target older people and those with additional medical conditions.
Two new monoclonal antibody treatments for outpatients with COVID-19 are being tested at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Known as BRII 196 and 198 and produced by Brii Biosciences, these investigational treatments are both monoclonal antibodies designed to block the ACE receptor, the protein that enables the virus to enter human cells, in the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Mario Castro, M.D., MPH, vice chair for clinical and translational research in the Department of Internal Medicine and a pulmonologist at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, will serve as principal investigator for the KU Medical Center site.
"Monoclonal" refers to an antibody manufactured in a laboratory. Castro noted that this is a neutralizing antibody that completely blocks a protein associated with the virus and neutralizes the virus itself. "This monoclonal antibody has a similar mechanism of action as the Lily monoclonal antibody we tested previously but it has a different target," Castro said. "Monoclonal antibodies are known to be safe. As physicians, we use monoclonal antibodies every day to treat other diseases, such as asthma or rheumatoid arthritis."
The trials are open to those over 60 or those under 60 who are smokers or who have obesity, high blood pressure, active cancer, chronic lung disease, kidney, or liver disease, or who are immunocompromised due to chronic illness or cancer treatments.
Even though vaccinations have begun, Castro noted that vaccination will not take the place of other treatments any time soon.
"Ultimately to beat this virus, we are going to need a cocktail of treatments, much like with HIV-AIDS," he said. "It's going to be a long period of time before the vaccine can be given to the general public and we can establish herd immunity in our society. And none of the vaccines are 100% effective." Castro also noted that those who have received the vaccine could be asymptomatic carriers, as can those who have developed antibodies due to recent infection.
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