monoclonal antbody tests start

[3NUMBAS]

Coronavirus: Monoclonal antibodies to begin UK trial

By Rebecca Morelle Science correspondent, BBC News

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-54120753

A new antibody treatment is to be trialled on Covid-19 patients in UK hospitals.

Monoclonal antibodies, which are potent, laboratory-made antibodies, will be given to about 2,000 people to see if they are effective against coronavirus.

It forms part of the UK Recovery Trial, which found that a cheap steroid called dexamethasone could save lives.

The first patients will be given the new drugs in the coming weeks.

Prof Martin Landray from the University of Oxford, who is co-leading the Recovery Trial, said: “This is the first type of treatment that's targeted for this specific virus.

“There are lots of good reasons for thinking it might well be effective - stopping the virus from reproducing, stopping the virus from causing damage, improving survival for patients.

“We need to know, and the way to know is to do the trials that will tell us whether that hope turns into reality.”

What are monoclonal antibodies?

Antibodies could be described as the "warriors" of the immune system.

 

[DrTuner]

Good. From what I've read, these are given as IV?