Covid, the Spike Protein, & Monoclonal Antibody Treatments
Bottom Line: The monoclonal antibodies are for non-hospitalized patients. One in every 20 people who get Eli Lilly Monoclonal Antibody and one in every 50 people who get Regeneron, may avoid a hospitalization.
Spike is a protein found on the outside of the Sars-CoV-2 viral particle. The Spike protein, also known as S-protein, is the key that unlocks the door to the human cells and allows the virus to gain access. Once inside the cell, the virus that causes Covid can take over genetic machinery and begin replicating. The door on the cell wall is a receptor named ACE2. There is a common class of medications called ACE-Inhibitors that help lower blood pressure (the “prils” like Lisinopril) and there was some thought early on in the pandemic that these medications might lower viral transmission (by keeping the door closed so that the virus couldn’t enter the cell). Unfortunately, lots of people on ACE-Inhibitors also became sick with Covid and targeting ACE2 didn’t pan out as a treatment option. That leaves the S-protein. Take away the key and you can’t open the door.
Spike is the target of both monoclonal antibody (Ab) therapy as well as developing vaccinations against Sars-CoV-2. Monoclonal Ab therapies are produced by cloning cell lines of identical antibody molecules. Monoclonal antibody drug names end in “-mab”. For…
