Experts indicate monoclonal therapy of antibodies may prevent progression of COVID if timed right

New Delhi: Doctors from all around India agreed to show favourable results for monoclonal antibodies among high-risk patients by reducing illness severity and opportunities for admission. This test drug was implemented in the country at highest level when the second wave was reported every day with multiple COVID patients.

Trails of recovery have revealed that monoclonal antibody usage can be prolonged to 7-10 days. Experts also underlined that monoclonal antibodies used in advance in sero-negative autoimmune patients have helped to reduce the likelihood of severe disease and hospitalisation.

This was observed at the Emerging COVID-19 Treatment Therapies session organised by Integrated Health & Wellbeing (IHW) Council in association with Cipla. Some noted speakers and experts present at the event included Dr Randeep Guleria, Director, AIIMS, New Delhi, Dr Dhruva Chaudhary, Head, Department of Pulmonary and Critical care Medicine, PGIMS, Rohtak, and Dr Shashank Joshi, of Lilavati Hospital and Research Centre, Mumbai.

Speaking about Monoclonal antibodies as a treatment for COVID, Dr Joshi, said, “We can say monoclonal antibodies are a reasonable treatment based on the compelling data from elite trails for high-risk patients, even in people who have not developed any antibody. The first 48 to 72 hours of infection is the most opportune time for administering monoclonal antibodies, but most of the patients come after that. Now, we have data from recovery trials which show the use of monoclonal antibodies can be extended up to 7 to 10 days and in exceptional cases, can be used in hospitalised patients as well.”

Monoclonal antibodies are different from the commonly used steroids that are commonly used and perceived as the only drugs available for treatment, as was noted by Dr Chaudhary. The cost factor of using monoclonal antibodies however, is to be examined.

“Our treatment strategy has evolved and we are using both empirical and repurposed drugs. Monoclonal antibodies have been useful for patients with high risk of severe disease but more data is needed on its efficacy. Besides, the challenge is to ensure they are not used across the board. The bottom-line is when to give which drug and when not to use which drug. A lot of investment has been done in vaccine development but not in antivirals. We need to invest more in developing good antivirals that can be given easily to patients and useful in the long run,”Dr Guleria added.