Virologist Altstein: the development of a vaccine based on a monoclonal antibody is impossible conversation with “Lenta.ru” doubted that on the basis of the monoclonal antibody discovered in China, it is possible to create a universal vaccine against COVID-19.
Earlier it was reported that Chinese scientists obtained from the blood of a person who had recovered COVID-19 in its severe form, monoclonal antibody 35B5, which is supposedly capable of neutralizing different strains of COVID-19 and can serve as the basis for the development of a universal vaccine.
It is impossible to make a vaccine from a monoclonal antibody, Altstein said. According to him, it can be used as a prophylaxis for a short time. “Monoclonal antibody is the equivalent of what was called immune serum. As a rule, serum is used for measles, if a child is sick in a group, the whole group can be injected with such a serum, and the group will be protected for some time – this is the use, “- said the virologist.
The professor also noted that monoclonal the antibody can be used for treatment, but in order for it to be effective, it must be administered on the first day of illness.
“It is inappropriate to inject such a monoclonal antibody to all healthy people, because immunity is short-lived, it will last about a month , and this antibody will cost a lot. As a result, it is suitable for limited prophylaxis, for treatment, if only on the first day of the disease. But who will administer such an expensive medicine on the first day of illness, if the person is not yet very ill? After all, everyone hopes that everything will pass without it easily, and after 23 days it is too late to introduce such a medicine, it will not help. Therefore, this is an interesting and useful work, but it is not a coup or a sensation, “concluded Altstein.