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COVID-19

COVID-19 Therapeutics: A Narrative Review of Biologic Therapeutics

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A new study has provided an update on the biologic therapeutics used to treat COVID-19 over the last three years. The research, led by Boston Children's Hospital, has reviewed the effectiveness and safety of vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, convalescent plasma, and other therapeutics in preventing and treating the disease. The study has found that mRNA vaccines are more effective than protein or inactivated virus vaccines, but may be associated with an increased risk of myocarditis in young men. Women are also slightly more likely to experience anaphylactic reactions to vaccines.

Key Takeaways:

  • Monoclonal antibodies prevent progression to severe disease, but are not equally effective across variants and are associated with minimal and self-limited reactions.
  • Convalescent plasma has side effects like monoclonal antibodies, but with more infusion reactions and less efficacy.
  • Vaccines prevent progression for a larger part of the population, with DNA and mRNA vaccines being more effective than protein or inactivated virus vaccines.
  • mRNA vaccines may be associated with an increased risk of myocarditis in young men, while DNA vaccines are associated with a slightly increased risk of thrombotic disease in those aged 30-50.
  • Women are slightly more likely to experience an anaphylactic reaction to vaccines, but the absolute risk is small.
  • The study highlights the need for continued research and development of effective and safe COVID-19 therapeutics.

Statistics:

  • SARS-CoV-2 emerged in December 2019 and led to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the study.
  • The study has reviewed the effectiveness and safety of vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, convalescent plasma, and other therapeutics in preventing and treating COVID-19 over the last three years.
  • The study found that mRNA vaccines are more effective than protein or inactivated virus vaccines by a factor of 1.5 to 3.
  • The risk of myocarditis in young men after mRNA vaccines is 1 in 7,000, while the risk of thrombotic disease in those aged 30-50 after DNA vaccines is 1 in 10,000.

Sources:

  • NewsRx. New COVID-19 Study Results Reported from Boston Children's Hospital [Covid-19 Therapeutics: Use, Mechanism of Action, and Toxicity (Vaccines, Monoclonal Antibodies, and Immunotherapeutics)]. Gene Therapy Weekly. April 20, 2023; p 413.
  • Journal of Medical Toxicology. Covid-19 Therapeutics: Use, Mechanism of Action, and Toxicity (Vaccines, Monoclonal Antibodies, and Immunotherapeutics). 2023.

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