4 ms·
That's roughly the gist of it. Three minor things: The problem isn't producing the human monoclonal antibody (we know how to make mabs) but in identifying the
by vikramkr 6y ago
That's roughly the gist of it. Three minor things:
The problem isn't producing the human monoclonal antibody (we know how to make mabs) but in identifying the right neutralizing antibody to produce, and this one that they've identified seems to be cross reactive to both SARS-COV-2 and to SARS-COV which is interesting. If this is to be developed as a drug, they'd need to test them in mice (currently difficult due to a shortage of COVID susceptible mice) and ultimately in human clinical trials.
Tocilizumab is another monocolonal antibody, yes, but it's not a neutralizing antibody against the virus. It's an antibody against the interleukin 6 receptor, and it's goal is to act as an immunosuppresant to shut down something called a "cytokine storm," which is often the actual damaging factor in cases like these sorts of viruses where the immune system's own collateral damage kills the patient.
And technically, Tocilizumab is a humanized antibody, not a human antibody. Fully human antibodies are the least likely to be recognized as foreign. Humanized are relatively less likely than non-humanized antibodies, but they aren't perfectly human.