Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. Researchers Publish New Findings in COVID-19

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. researchers have published new report on the combined role of anti-viral monoclonal antibodies and vaccines in reducing SARS-CoV-2 transmission and mortality in the United States. Their research, published in Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, aimed to assess the impact of these interventions on pandemic transmission and mortality during the aggressive pandemic phase (October 2020 to April 2021) and a less aggressive phase (April to August 2021). The researchers used an agent-based model that accounted for social contacts, movement/travel, disease progression, and viral shedding to estimate the potential benefits of these interventions.

Key Takeaways:

• The use of anti-viral monoclonal antibodies as a treatment of COVID-19 and for passive immunity for postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) averted up to 14% more infections than vaccine alone when allocated for use only as PEP.
• Targeting individuals 65 years or older with mAbs averted up to 37% more deaths.
• Rapid diagnostic testing paired with mAbs was evaluated as an early treatment-as-prevention strategy and amplified the benefits of mAb use.
• Doubling the mAb supply further reduced infections and mortality.
• The model projections estimated that similar to 42% of expected deaths between April and August 2021 could be averted.
• The researchers concluded that mAbs provided benefits even as the proportion of the immunized population increased, and their use as early treatment and PEP in addition to vaccines would substantially reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission and mortality.

Statistics:

• Up to 14% more infections were averted when mAbs were used as PEP compared to vaccine alone.
• Up to 37% more deaths were averted when targeting individuals 65 years or older with mAbs.
• Evaluating rapid diagnostic testing with mAbs amplified the benefits of mAb use.
• Doubling the mAb supply reduced infections and mortality by an unspecified amount.
• Approximately 42% of expected deaths between April and August 2021 could be averted using mAbs in addition to vaccines.

Sources:

• [Assessing the Combined Public Health Impact of Pharmaceutical Interventions On Pandemic Transmission and Mortality: an Example In Sars Cov-2, Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 2022]
• [Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., Tarrytown, NY 10591, United States, Mohamed A. Kamal, Principal Investigator]
• [Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Wiley, 111 River St, Hoboken 07030-5774, NJ, USA]
• [Nature Publishing Group, www.nature.com/]
• [NewsRx. Researchers from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. Discuss Findings in COVID-19 (Assessing the Combined Public Health Impact of Pharmaceutical Interventions On Pandemic Transmission and Mortality: an Example In Sars Cov-2). Vaccine Weekly. October 19, 2022; p 538.]