An update to monoclonal antibody as therapeutic option against COVID-19

Paroma Deb; Md Maruf Ahmed Molla; K M Saif-Ur-Rahman

doi:10.1016/j.bsheal.2021.02.001

An update to monoclonal antibody as therapeutic option against COVID-19

Biosaf Health. 2021 Apr;3(2):87-91. doi: 10.1016/j.bsheal.2021.02.001. Epub 2021 Feb 10.

Authors

Paroma Deb¹, Md Maruf Ahmed Molla², K M Saif-Ur-Rahman³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Virology, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh.
² Department of Virology, National Institute of Laboratory Medicine and Referral Center, Dhaka 1207, Bangladesh.
³ Health Systems and Population Studies Division, icddr,b, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh.

Abstract

With the number of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases soaring worldwide and limited vaccine availability for the general population in most countries, the monoclonal antibody (mAb) remains a viable therapeutic option to treat COVID-19 disease and its complications, especially in the elderly individuals. More than 50 monoclonal antibody-related clinical trials are being conducted in different countries around the world, with few of them nearing the completion of the third and fourth phase clinical trial. In view of recent emergency use authorization (EUA) from the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) of casirivimab and imdevimab, it is of importance that mAbs, already used to treat diseases such as Ebola and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection, are discussed in scientific communities. This brief review discusses the mechanism of action and updates to clinical trials of different monoclonal antibodies used to treat COVID-19, with special attention paid to SARS-CoV-2 immune response in host cells, target viral structures, and justification of developing mAbs following the approval and administration of potential effective vaccine among vulnerable populations in different countries.

Keywords: Antibody therapy; Coronavirus; Monoclonal antibody; SARS-CoV-2; mAb.

Publication types

Review