COVID-19 :
Despite the approval and distribution of Pfizer vaccines in the UK, there is still a desire to go further, and several scientists develop a new treatment consisting of using antibodies to obtain almost immediate protection in patients with coronavirus, especially in those for whom it is urgent.
Participate in a clinical trial launched by University College London Hospitals NHS Trust (UCLH) and named Storm Chaser. With him, the idea is that the use of antibodies offers lasting and long-term protectionespecially in cases where it would be too late to offer them a vaccine.
For the time being, the treatment has already been injected to 10 people in the country’s vaccine research center, once the study entered Phase III trials on December 2. The goal is to reach 1,125 people with this new treatment, and to spread throughout the world.
A second test also in progress
In addition to the Storm Chaser, The UK has launched another called Provent, which aims to examine the use of antibodies in those who cannot benefit from vaccines for some reason., either because of your immune system, your risk of infection or other existing factors such as age.
These two clinical trials are an important addition to test new therapeutic approaches, as antibody treatments may offer an alternative groups of patients who cannot benefit from a vaccine, such as immunocompromised patients ”, says Professor Stephen Powis, National Medical Director of England’s NHS, in statements collected by itv.com support.
In addition, Powis also highlights the enormous work of his center to continue to develop new ways to fight the coronavirus: “The continued contribution of the NHS to global efforts to fight COVID-19 is remarkable.”
What does the treatment look like and to whom?
The antibody is called AZD7442 and was developed by the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, which specifically collaborated with the University of Oxford in the development of its vaccine, which is awaiting approval from the Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
“We know that this combination of antibodies can neutralize the virus, so we hope to find that giving this injection treatment can lead to immediate protection against the development of COVID-19. in people who have been exposed, when it would be too late to offer a vaccine, ”explains Dr. Catherine Houlihan, virologist at UCLH and director of the Storm Chaser trial.
The first trial, the aforementioned Storm Chaser, is aimed at restrooms, student roommates, patients who have been in contact with an infected person., people in long-term care, military personnel, and workers in industries and factories.
On another side, The Provent trial will recruit the elderly, people in long-term care, and people with cancer or HIV in its trials. “We want to assure anyone for whom a vaccine does not work that we can offer an equally protective alternative ”says the director of the essay section, Dr Nicky Longley.
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