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Amid the surge in coronavirus cases across the globe, a new antibody treatment is being tested in hopes it could prevent people from developing the deadly virus after being exposed to the disease. According to SkyNews, the antibody, known as AZD7442, was developed by UK pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca and is currently being reviewed by University College London Hospitals NHS Trust in a new trial called “ Storm Chaser ”. So far, ten people have been injected with the new antibody as part of the trial and UCLH aims to recruit 1,125 people worldwide.
Dr Catherine Houlihan, who is UCLH’s virologist and who is also leading the campaign, said officials, for now, know that the combination of antibodies can neutralize the virus. She added that authorities hope to find that administering this injection treatment can lead to immediate protection against the development of the coronavirus in people who have been exposed. In addition, she informed that UCLH aims to inject people from key groups, including healthcare workers, roommates, the military and those who have recently been exposed to the deadly virus.
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Along with “ Storm Chaser, ” another antibody is also being dragged in hopes that it could help people who cannot benefit from the vaccination, such as those with weakened immune systems, or those at increased risk. of coronavirus due to factors such as age or their health. The second antibody test is known as “Provent” and will be tested on volunteers, including the elderly, people in long-term care, and people with diseases such as HIV and cancer.
According to reports, Dr Nicky Longley, an infectious disease consultant for UCLH and who heads ‘Provent,’ said officials want to reassure anyone whose vaccine may not work that they may offer an alternative just as protective. In a separate statement, NHS England National Professor of Medicine Stephen Powis also said the NHS ‘continued contribution to global efforts to fight the coronavirus is remarkable. He added that the two clinical trials are an important addition to test new therapeutic approaches because antibody therapy may offer another group of patients who may not benefit from a vaccine, such as immunocompromised patients.
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New strain of COVID in UK
Meanwhile, news of the antibody tests comes as the new strain of the virus has been detected in the UK. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson informed the public of the new COVID-19 strain on December 2 and imposed a stricter lockdown to contain the spread on Saturday. The new strain was first detected by scientists who were studying the increase in cases in the country. Medical experts were alarmed as cases of COVID-19 continued to rise in the south-east of England despite restrictions imposed by the government.
According to experts, this type of infection is more transmissible than other variants of SARS-CoV-2. Following the arrival of the new strain, several countries have introduced new travel restrictions. The new strain has also been identified in countries such as South Africa, Australia and the Netherlands.
(Image: Rep / AP)
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