Monoclonal therapy 100% prevents severe disease, deaths in Delta-infected patients: Study

The Monoclonal antibody drug cocktail gained global attention as a miracle cure for COVID-19 after it was administered to former US President Donald Trump. However, the initial scientific evidence was not enough and while there were a few studies that showed its effectiveness, no study across the world was done on the Delta variant of SARS CoV2.

In the world's first published study in a peer-reviewed, high-impact journal, AIG Hospitals along with the Asian Healthcare Foundation, CCMB Hyderabad and Institute of Life Sciences, successfully proved that the Monoclonal therapy reduces severe disease and death in high-risk individuals infected with the Delta variant.

The study was conducted on 285 patients.

"The results are astonishing and will shape the public health policy for treatment of COVID-19, especially in high-risk individuals, those above age of 60 or even below 60 but with diabetes, hypertension, obesity, pregnant woman, people with chronic diseases. We have clearly demonstrated in our research that when given at the right time, Monoclonal therapy stops the progression of the disease completely," said Dr. D. Nageshwar Reddy, the chairman of AIG Hospitals.

"If we look at the cost of hospitalization due to COVID-19 in India along with the number of people living with diabetes and hypertension, the cost factor of the monoclonal therapy is quite considerate given the fact that now we know it prevents deaths and severe disease by 100%," added Dr. Reddy.

He said they are now studying the effectiveness of the drug cocktail on hospitalized patients and exploring the possible use of this therapy as a prophylaxis (preventive).

Highlights from the study

• More than 98% samples tested were identified as the Delta variant.

• 75% patients who got the Monoclonal therapy became RT-PCR negative by 7th day.

• 78% patients got relief from clinical symptoms like fever and cough by 7th day.

• None of the study participants developed severe disease or died.

• There was no increase in inflammatory markers in these patients which causes severe disease.

• On follow up, none of the patients reported any post-COVID symptoms.

• The neutralizing activity of the Monoclonal therapy was similar in both the original Wuhan strain and the Delta strain.