Belgian-based researchers have developed a new antibody drug that is highly successful in neutralizing coronavirus infection 2019 (COVID-19) in Syrian hamsters. The rodents were given the new biologist and found to be just as successful in neutralizing the old respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) syndrome, as well as the new mutant variants, such as strains. South Africa and the UK.
A pre-printed version of the full research paper can be found on the bioRxiv* server.
Antibody immunity
Vaccines represent strong tools for combating disease, however, they are limited in some ways. Immunity can be short-lived or less effective in older age groups. Availability of vaccines in many countries, vaccine laziness, are other reasons for which the effect is currently uncertain.
Passive antibody immunotherapy offers an alternative. Antibodies have a long half-life, are easily reproducible, and in particular, they are generally able to neutralize. Antibodies with this ability can be more successful within the immune system because they can be effective against several mutant mutations of a virus, rather than being effective to a single strain.
Nico Callewaert, Xavier Saelens and colleagues have developed a new heavy-chain antibody-only, called XVR011, which is equally potent against several SARS-CoV-2 modifications. Not only that, but it is very durable, and has “excellent manufacturing capacity.”
Previously, researchers had been able to reproduce a prototype antibody, VHH72, which was effective in protecting mice from SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this study, they were able to modify and increase the efficacy of the antibody using computer models. These antibodies were then tested on Syrian hamsters and reduced viral RNA remaining in the lung caverns of the animals.
The team then proceeded to maximize the antibody molecules, and further tested these antibodies against more active strains of the virus in hamsters. This new protein has been dubbed XVR011, and has been found to be equally potent against mutation of the virus in the UK and South Africa (B.1.1.7. And B.1.351, respectively). XVR011 is also not reactive with other human proteins, and is specific to viral RNA, supporting potential use for pharmacological purposes.
“We are pleased to report on our work… developing a strong, cross-linked, VHH-Fc antibody drug that counteracts VoC” tweets Nico Callewaert. Callewaert is one of the leading authors of the paper and a professor at the University of Ghent, Belgium.
We are pleased to report on https://t.co/5rDfmw6C7J on our work that began on January 21, 2020 on the development of a highly potent, cross-linked, conventional VoC-Fc antibody drug a- out of the VHH72 forecast we pre-printed in March 2020, then published https://t.co/Nyfd9u6zW4 1 / n
– Nico Callewaert (@NicoCallewaert) March 9, 2021
Such enhanced antibodies can be used for long-term immunity against new SARS-CoV-2 mutations in the future and may be crucial in protecting populations in order to obtain vaccines. Furthermore, since this antibody appears to work over several mutations of SARS-CoV-2, it may be instrumental in slowing the release of mutant sequences that may have been vaccinated from the standard vaccines.
* Important message
bioRxiv publish preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be seen as final, guiding health-related clinical practice / behavior, or be treated as information established.