As additional COVID-19 studies begin at UAB, experts are testing immune-focused methods, with a goal of decreasing COVID-19 related complications and deaths.
Dr. Sonya Heath, professor of medicine in UAB’s Division of Infectious Diseases, said antiretrovirals or antivirals are the common method for targeting COVID-19. Currently, UAB has a study that uses the immune system to attack the virus, in order for the body to create antibodies or proteins that protect against the virus.
“When we think about things like convalescent plasma, we’re actually taking plasma from somebody who has recovered from the virus and then transferring that immunity to somebody who’s actively infected with the virus now,” Heath said.
UAB has been using the convalescent plasma method of treatment for inpatients since summer, and will now be using it with outpatients. Heath said this will be used to treat those diagnosed with COVID, along with the prevention of those in close contact with someone who is COVID positive.
Heath said the current convalescent plasma study treats patients within the first eight days that symptoms are shown. The goal is to see if a high concentration of antibodies will decrease how severe the symptoms are.
“Now when we think about any sort of immune based therapies, it’s on a continuum with plasma trials, being the earliest therapies on that continuum,” Heath said. “Then progressively moving to things like antibodies that are generated synthetically.”
Heath said Regeneron is an antibody trial that involves patients receiving a combination of two separate antibodies.
“There have been some early reports on the first 275 patients that have been enrolled in this trial with some beneficial outcomes in the outpatient studies,” Heath said. “We’re eager to use these two different modalities, both convalescent plasma and antibody based therapies, through the cocktails of antibodies to help prevent, treat patients with COVID in the outpatient setting as well as treat patients in the inpatient setting.”
Dr.Turner Overton, professor of medicine in UAB’s Division of Infectious Diseases, said convalescent plasma can be considered a useful tool.
“This is a strategy called passive immunization, where we give plasma or antibodies from one person to another,” Overton said. “We have a long history of doing this in infectious diseases and the antibodies in the plasma can bind to the virus and stop the infection. The next step is to identify the antibodies from someone who has recuperated (from COVID-19.)”
Overton said Regeneron has created a product that targets important proteins that aid in the treatment of COVID.
“We want to find that spike protein that is binding to the ACE receptor,” Overton said. “A number of companies have identified a very targeted antibody and they’re making that in the lab and able to give that to people. Regeneron has a product where they’re targeting that protein and this other company, Eli Lilly similarly has an antibody.”
In a new trial UAB is performing, COVID positive patients will begin the study within the first 10 days of being diagnosed. In this study, one group will receive a placebo, while the other group will have a monochrome antibody from Eli Lilly that will attach itself to the virus.
Overton said he wanted to remind others to take the virus seriously.
“You need to do the mitigation strategies you can, which include wearing a mask, practicing safe social distancing and doing hand hygiene,” Overton said. “If you’re unfortunate enough to get symptoms of COVID, get tested. If you test positive, seek information from your medical provider about what they recommend.”
