Monoclonal antibodies are a class of drugs that have changed the prevention and treatment of diseases, from cancer and diseases of the immune system to viral infections in children. These are not chemical compounds, like most drugs, but are based on natural antibodies. These are proteins that the body produces on its own to fight disease, but they are produced in laboratories and mass-produced in factories. The first monoclonal antibody product was licensed over 30 years ago.

The production of monoclonal antibodies is difficult and expensive, after which they are reproduced and produced in large quantities. Most of the monoclonal antibodies produced in Chinese hamster ovary cells are usually grown in large bioreactors for about 10-15 days. The resulting antibodies are purified and packaged for ease of use. This whole process is laborious and costly. The physical costs for startups are even higher.

Most monoclonal antibodies on the market are for the treatment of non-communicable diseases such as autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and cancer. Over the past decades, cancer immunotherapy has saved millions of lives around the world. many cancers, including breast cancer, for which Herceptin is a game changer and showing promising signs. One of these is adalimumab, which is used to treat arthritis and Crohn’s disease; The University of Oxford recently launched a study to examine its potential in treating people in residential areas, funded by the COVID19 therapeutic accelerator. antibody. Regeneron.

Monoclonal antibodies are identical copies of antibodies that target a specific antigen. Monoclonal antibodies have been used by healthcare professionals, for example, to treat viral infections such as Ebola and HIV. Each monoclonal antibody is specific for its corresponding antigen.

There are several licensed monoclonal antibody therapies for COVID19. Given the robust growth of SARSCoV2 variants in the United States that are resistant to bamlaniximab alone, and the availability of other licensed monoclonal antibody therapies, these options are expected to be phased out by the United States government, in collaboration with Eli Lilly and company, to stop the distribution of bamlaniximab.

According to a report by the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative and Wellcome, a global charity that funds In’s biomedical research, about 80% of all monoclonal antibody drugs, including cancer drugs, are sold. USA, Canada and Europe only. Treatment with monoclonal antibodies is most effective within a few days of the diagnosis of COVID19. Rapid Response Unit deployed to Jacksonville to enable more COVID19 patients to access monoclonal antibody treatment.

What are monoclonal antibodies? According to infectious disease experts, these are artificial proteins that can reduce a patient’s viral load and help fight infections.
Baptist Health Infectious Disease Pharmacist Dr. Amin Pirastek explains the beneficial treatments for COVID19 patients. “It is used for critically ill patients with hypoxia and multiple risk factors, so it can be anything from hypertension to chronic kidney disease,” he said.

This infusion or addition of artificial proteins are not done magically. They are done meticulously by gene study. Without study, it will get worse as per the doctors in infectious disease division in Baptist Health. Monoclonal antibodies are a boon to the society. They are available in developed countries also in Baptist health community . However, monoclonal antibodies cannot substitute vaccines.