A recent study has shown that treatment with inhaled nanobodies targeting the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein can prevent and treat severe forms of Covid-19 in hamsters. Published on May 26, 2021 in the scientific journal Science Advances and led by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh in the United States, the research has yielded some rather encouraging results and promises to revolutionize the treatment of the new coronavirus. This is indeed the first study to have tested the inhalation of nanobodies against infections by coronaviruses in a preclinical model.
An effective nanobodies treatment against Covid-19
FYI, nanobodies are similar to monoclonal antibodies, but they are more stable, cheaper to produce, and relatively smaller. Their low dose inhalation protected rodents against the significant weight loss associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. What is more, this nanobody treatment also reduced the number of infectious viral particles inhabiting the nasal cavities, throat and lungs of hamsters. The nanobody was called ” Pittsburgh inhalable Nanobody-21 (PiN-21) ».
“By using inhalation therapy that can be given directly to the site of infection – the airways and lungs – treatments can be made more effective.” said one of the lead authors, Yi Shi, and added: “We are extremely excited and encouraged by our results suggesting that PiN-21 may have a significantly protective effect against serious disease and can potentially prevent human-to-human viral transmission.”.
The trials also found that the nanobody treatment exhibited a protective effect when PiN-21 was administered intranasally at the time of infection. Hamsters who were treated with it did not lose weight, unlike those who received the placebo. The latter lost up to 16% of their initial weight over a period of seven days, which is equivalent to a loss of about 10 kg in a week in humans.
“Covid-19 is currently the disease of concern of the 21st century. Giving this therapy directly to the lungs can be a game-changer about our ability to process it ”, said study co-author Doug Reed.
The researchers also point out that competition between nanobodies and vaccines is out of the question. Vaccines are currently the best tool to curb the spread of the virus, while the goal of nanobodies is to treat people who are already sick and those who cannot get vaccinated for other medical reasons. précise Science Daily.
References :
Science Advances (2021) : « Inhalable Nanobody (PiN-21) prevents and treats SARS-CoV-2 infections in Syrian hamsters at ultra-low doses », Yi Shi et coll.
Science Daily (2021) : « Inhaled nanobodies protect hamsters from COVID-19, study finds ».
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