MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES (mAbs)

MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES (mAbs)

 

Context

  • Serum Institute of India (SII) and the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) have announced an agreement with pharmaceutical major Merck to develop SARS-CoV-2 neutralising monoclonal antibodies (mAbs).

 

MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES

  • Antibodies are proteins produced naturally by the immune system that target a specific foreign object (antigen). They are called monoclonal Antibodies (mAbs) when they are produced by clones derived from a single parent cell.
  • They are man-made proteins that act like a human antibody in the immune system. They are made by cloning a unique white blood cell.
  • mAbs have monovalent affinity, it binds only to the same epitope e. the part of an antigen that is recognized by the antibody.
  • They are designed to perform many roles, like they can be used to carry drugs, toxins, or radioactive substances directly to affected cells.
  • mAbs are used to treat many diseases, including

some types of cancer.

 

mAbs and Covid-19:

  • Neutralising monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against SARS-CoV-2 were co-invented by IAVI and Scripps Research.
  • They are widely considered to be promising candidates for Covid-19 treatment and prevention.
  • Encouraging results for Covid-19 antibody treatment have emerged from preclinical research and from initial clinical trials.
  • mAbs also have the potential to play an important complementar y role to Covid-19 vaccines.
  • It can be used both for treatment and potentially for prevention, especially for those individuals who, due to age or medical conditions, may not benefit from vaccination.

 

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