Since the COVID-19 outbreak was declared a Pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, scientists, pharmaceutical companies, and drug developers around the world have been racing to find a treatment for the virus [1].

As confirmed cases continue to climb and the death toll increases, clinical trials for potential treatments have been accelerated at an exceptional rate. Nearly three months after China first alerted the WHO of several unusual cases of pneumonia, one company has finally identified a possible treatment that could be available by early summer [2].

Mapped Antibodies

US drugmaker Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. has identified hundreds of antibodies that may treat COVID-19 and is set to begin clinical trials. The trials will determine the two most effective antibodies, and the company is going to use them to create a “cocktail” treatment [3].

The company is using a process called antibody mapping to select the top two performers. Antibodies are blood proteins produced by your immune system that counteract foreign substances in the body, such as bacteria or viruses [4]. “Mapping” them involves experimentally determining which antibodies chemically bind the most effectively with a given antigen- in this case, the novel coronavirus [5]. 

Originally, the company said that it aimed to have hundreds of thousands of doses ready for human testing by the end of the summer, but have since accelerated production and will have two hundred thousand doses ready for testing much earlier [6].

Dr. George Yancopoulos, Regeneron’s co-founder, is optimistic about the company’s aggressive timeline.

“There are always so many moving parts, but … we’re hitting our best numbers, our best timelines, and things are going really well,” he said [6].

Regeneron has a history of drug development for pandemics and was responsible for creating the most effective antibody cocktail against the Ebola outbreak in the 1990s. The company is now applying its once-successful technology to the current pandemic, and said the following in a statement:

“In order to meet the pressing public health need, Regeneron is applying its VelociMab technology to prepare manufacturing-ready cell lines as lead antibodies are selected, so that clinical-scale production can begin immediately…The company is working with the U.S. Health & Human Services’ Biomedical Advanced Research and Defense Authority (BARDA) to increase capacity even further.” [7]

Read: Japanese Flu Drug ‘Clearly Effective’ in Treating Coronavirus, Says China

Testing on Mice

With the same methods they used to develop the Ebola drug, Regeneron is using mice that have been genetically engineered to have human-like immune systems to generate human antibodies against COVID-19.

This approach is regarded by experts as being the most promising tool to apply against the virus, particularly in the fall, when health officials expect it to resurge.

Regeneron is using these antibodies, along with antibodies from the blood of recovered patients, to determine which ones are the most effective. They are combining two of the best antibodies as a protective measure in case the virus mutates, which could render the drug ineffective.

The dosage required to protect someone against the COVID-19 virus is much lower than what is needed to treat someone who has the disease already, so the goal of the company is to develop enough of the drug so it can be used as a prophylactic treatment.

The first people to receive the drug will likely be frontline healthcare workers and those who are at a higher risk for the disease. These individuals will need a dose about once per month, until a more long-term treatment, such as a vaccine, is available.

So far, the company has been meeting its deadlines for development of the drug, but Yancopoulous warns that several things still need to go right before it will be ready.

“This is biology, not coding or writing an app. There are a lot of things that can still go wrong,” he said [6].

Read: New York Hospitals Are Treating Coronavirus Patients With Vitamin C

Arthritis Drug Vs. COVID-19

Regeneron is also testing its rheumatoid arthritis drug, Kevzara, for its efficacy against COVID-19. The drug is being evaluated for its ability to treat the severe immune response that occurs in the lungs of COVID-19 patients. 

Kevtara is already on the market and available for use, so it could serve as a temporary treatment for critically ill patients while other treatments, such as the antibody cocktail, are still in development.

Yancopoulous believes Regeneron has been preparing for this for a long time, and the company is positioned to have a massive impact globally.

“We really do feel,” he said, “like we’ve been preparing for years for this opportunity to make a difference.” [6]

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