A new study based on an ongoing Phase II clinical trial, whose interim results were published in The New England Journal of Medicine in October 2020 found that Covid-19 patients who were administered the antibody had fewer symptoms and were less likely to require hospitalisation or emergency medical care than those who did not receive the therapy across all demographic groups, including those in high-risk categories—adults older than 65 and those with a high body mass index (greater than 35). The analysis indicated a reduced viral load in outpatients with mild to moderate cases of Covid-19 at the 2,800-milligram dosage level. The publication of the data adds to the growing body of evidence for the potential utility for neutralising antibodies as therapeutics for recently diagnosed patients with mild to moderate Covid-19, especially high-risk patient.
As per the researchers, monoclonal antibodies work by attaching themselves to a virus and preventing it from replicating. LY-CoV555 a monoclonal antibody derived from the blood of a recovered Cov19, patient binds to a particular protein on the Sars-CoV-2, which the virus needs to enter human cells and replicate. Thus, the antibody slows down the replication process, allowing the patient’s own immune system becomes full functional. The efforts are to prevent the virus from causing too much damage early on in the process. In the phase II trial of England patients were given intravenous doses of either 700, 2,800, or 7,000 milligrams of the antibody, or a placebo. The 2,800-milligram dosage showed effectiveness in reducing viral load.
In this trial, one of three doses of neutralising antibody LY-CoV555 appeared to accelerate the natural decline in viral load over time, whereas the other doses had not by day 11. The scientists used a nasopharyngeal swab to test viral load of patients before administering the antibody. After administering the dose, the researchers again used a nasopharyngeal swab at several points. The researchers also gave a questionnaire to the patients to know about their subsequent symptoms and treatment. Nearly 300 patients received the treatment (100 patients per dosage level), and approximately 150 patients received the placebo. By day 11, the viral load was substantially diminished for most patients, including those in the placebo arm. But further studies are required to validate the results.
As per the findings, hospitalisation rates were only 1.6 per cent in the antibody-treated group at day 29, compared with 6.3 per cent in the group that received the placebo. For high-risk patients, the hospitalisation rates were 4.2 per cent in patients treated with the antibody, compared to 14.6 per cent in placebo-treated patients. The safety profile of patients treated with LY-CoV555 was similar to that of placebo-treated patients. Covid-19 is especially hard on the elderly, the obese, and people with certain pre-existing health conditions.
Courtesy: IndianExpress