Can Monoclonal Antibodies Lower Chances of Contracting COVID-19?

Immunity Boosters: Monoclonal Antibodies in COVID-19 Fight

Your immune system is a superpower, but sometimes, it needs an extra boost to tackle severe illnesses like cancer or COVID-19. One such boost comes from lab-made proteins called monoclonal antibodies. Dr. Tricia Bravo, an infectious disease specialist, breaks down the science behind these fascinating immune system allies.

What the Heck are Monoclonal Antibodies?

When you're exposed to an infection, your body produces specific proteins – antibodies – to combat the invader. After the infection clears, your body continues to make some of those antibodies, just in case the infection returns.

"Think of antibodies as your body's specialized warriors to fight off infections," explains Dr. Bravo.

Monoclonal antibodies are born in labs, mimicking the supernatural abilities of your natural antibodies. They work faster, delivering immediate results. Besides fighting cancer, monoclonal antibodies have also been employed in the battle against COVID-19.

"They're highly focused ammunition to knock out specific infectious organisms," Dr. Bravo adds.

Monoclonal Antibodies: Weapon Against COVID-19

Neutralizing monoclonal antibodies, though, are no longer utilized to treat COVID-19 in the U.S. because they're less effective against currently circulating omicron subvariants.

Currently, the primary treatment options for direct COVID-19 targeting in the U.S. are these antiviral medications:

PaxlovidTM (a combination of two medications, nirmatrelvir and ritonavir).
LagevrioTM (molnupiravir).
Veklury® (remdesivir) through an IV infusion.

These are available for people with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 infection who are at a high risk for progressing to severe infection. Remdesivir is also a recommended treatment strategy, combined with steroids, for certain hospitalized individuals with severe illness.

Earlier in the pandemic, neutralizing monoclonal antibodies like EvusheldTM (tixagevimab and cilgavimab) were used as a preventive measure against COVID-19. These antibodies have a distinct mechanism of action from antivirals.

"Neutralizing monoclonal antibodies and antiviral medications differ in their operation," says Dr. Bravo. "Neutralizing monoclonal antibodies attack the spike protein on the surface of the COVID-19 virus, preventing it from infecting your cells. Antiviral medications, however, inhibit the ability of the virus to reproduce and decrease the spread of the infection."

Now, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has withdrawn the emergency use authorization for monoclonal antibodies previously utilized as treatment.

The monoclonal antibodies that are no longer authorized in the U.S. (but may be authorized elsewhere) include:

Bamlanivimab/Etesevimab.
Bebtelovimab.
Evusheld (tixagevimab and cilgavimab).
REGEN-COV® (casirivimab and imdevimab).
Sotrovimab.

Other monoclonal antibodies, like Actemra® (tocilizumab), are only used as treatment in the U.S. for hospitalized individuals with severe COVID-19 infection who meet specific criteria:

Age 2 and older.
Positive COVID-19 test.
Hospitalization.
Receiving systemic corticosteroids.
Receiving supplemental oxygen.

This medication doesn't tackle the coronavirus directly, but it's an anti-inflammatory that prevents your immune system from becoming overreactive to the virus.

Monoclonal Antibodies versus Vaccines

Keep in mind, monoclonal antibodies are not a substitute for the COVID-19 vaccine. Dr. Bravo strongly emphasizes the importance of vaccination as the most effective defense against contracting severe COVID-19, even for immunocompromised individuals.

"The vaccine is your best protection, offering a better and more long-lasting shield than you can get with monoclonal antibodies," she says.

Administration of Monoclonal Antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies can only be administered intravenously or through a subcutaneous injection (shot). Therefore, to receive them, you'll need to visit a medical facility, limiting overall treatment availability. When used as a treatment for COVID-19, Actemra is given through a single 60-minute IV infusion.

Stay Informed

The recommendations for COVID-19 treatments and the use of monoclonal antibodies evolve regularly to meet the demands of emerging variants. For the most up-to-date information, consult the FDA's list of treatments authorized for emergency use (EUA) for COVID-19 treatment. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) continues to update its guidelines with new effective treatments. For individuals outside of the U.S., the World Health Organization (WHO) provides its own set of guidelines on recommended treatments.

In the realm of health and wellness, monoclonal antibodies, like EvusheldTM, have been employed in medical-conditions such as COVID-19, functioning as specialized therapies-and-treatments that mimic the body's natural response to infections, but are produced in labs.
To bolster their food consumption with an essential source of health, some individuals choose to adopt a diet rich in foods that are high in antibodies, such as yogurt containing probiotics, believing these foods can contribute to a stronger immune system.
The medical community continues to explore the potential of monoclonal antibodies in the science behind health and medicine, with researchers studying their efficacy in treating not just severe illnesses like cancer and COVID-19, but also in addressing a variety of other medical-conditions, thus expanding the horizons of health-and-wellness therapies-and-treatments.