British scientists are currently trying a new drug that could prevent an individual who has been exposed to coronavirus from continuing to develop the COVID-19 disease, which experts claim could save many lives.
According to a report from The Guardian, antibody treatment would "confer instant immunity against the disease" and could be provided as an emergency therapy to inpatients in hospitals, as well as residents of a care home to help control outbreaks.
Meanwhile, those residing in households where an individual has caught COVID-19 could be injected with the drug to guarantee that they don't become infected, too.
It could also be administered to university students, among whom the virus has spread fast since they reside, study and socialize in the same place together.
A Primary Care Practitioner prepares a Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine as COVID-19 vaccinations take place at Haxby and Wiggington Surgery on December 22, 2020 in York, England. The Haxby Group primary care provider will deliver the vaccine to eligible patients working with 11 GP practices in the area.
Promising Treatment
Virologist Dr. Catherine Houlihan, from the University College London Hospitals NHS Trust, who's leading the study into the drug entitled Storm Chaser as well explained, "If we can prove this therapy works and prevent people exposed to the virus, continuing to contract COVID-19, it would be such an exciting contribution and addition to the collection of weapons currently being developed to combat the dreadful virus.
The said the new drug had been developed by UCLH and AstraZeneca, the pharmaceutical firm that has also, together with Oxford University, created a vaccines Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is expected to authorize for use in Britain in the coming week.
Furthermore, the team hopes the trial presents that the cocktail of antibodies shields against COVID-19 for six to 12 months.
Participants for the trial are being given with the new drug at two doses, one after the other. Once approved, it would be provided to an individual who has been exposed to the virus in the past eight days.
Available by the First Quarter of 2021
The Guardian also said that the new drug could be "available as soon as March or April" if approved by the medicines regulator after it has evaluated evidence from the research.
The said trial involves UCLH, many other UK hospitals, and an association of 100 locations around the world. This month, University College hospital became the pioneering site globally to recruit patients into the randomized control trial and provide them with the jab or a placebo.
To date, Houlihan said, they have injected 10 participants, including patients, staff, and other individuals who are exposed to the COVID-19 virus at home, in healthcare environs, or in student halls.
The virologist, together with her colleagues, would closely monitor and observe the participants to see who among them develop COVID-19.
Such immediate protection that this new drug promises could play an important role in lessening the effect of the virus until all people have been immunized.
The vaccination program is currently in progress through the use of Pfizer and BionTech vaccine and, according to the said report, "is expected to take until next summer."
NHS England fast-tracked the deployment of vaccine this week following criticism from hospital officials, GP leaders, and Jeremy Hunt, former health secretary, that it was taking too long.
This medicine's advantage, Houlihan explained, "is that it gives you immediate antibodies." She added, they could say to the trial participants exposed to the virus, "Yes, you can have the vaccine."
However, she elaborated, they wouldn't be telling these people that the vaccine would protect them from COVID-19 as it is too late by then since Pfizer and Oxford "do not confer full immunity for around one month."
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