CORONA Monoclonal antibodies, pros/cons?

SmithJ

Veteran Member
Should be very little cost. Check another provider. The feds pay the bill.


Q: What is the cost of the monoclonal antibody products to the patient?

A: Because the federal government has purchased a supply of monoclonal antibody treatments, there is no cost to the patient for the antibody product itself. However, it is possible there may be administration costs related to providing the infusion. Many patients will bear no costs for infusion administration.
 

Doc

Senior Member
Monoclonal Antibodies and Their Side Effects

One way the body's immune system attacks foreign substances is by making large numbers of antibodies. An antibody is a protein that sticks to a specific protein called an antigen. Antibodies circulate throughout the body until they find and attach to the antigen. Once attached, they can force other parts of the immune system to destroy the cells containing the antigen.
Researchers can design antibodies that specifically target a certain antigen, such as one found on cancer cells. They can then make many copies of that antibody in the lab. These are known as monoclonal antibodies (mAbs or Moabs).
Monoclonal antibodies are used to treat many diseases, including some types of cancer. To make a monoclonal antibody, researchers first have to identify the right antigen to attack. Finding the right antigens for cancer cells is not always easy, and so far mAbs have proven to be more useful against some cancers than others.
NOTE: Some monoclonal antibodies used to treat cancer are referred to as targeted therapy because they have a specific target on a cancer cell that they aim to find, attach to, and attack. But other monoclonal antibodies act like immunotherapy because they make the immune system respond better to allow the body to find and attack cancer cells more effectively.
What mAbs are made of
Monoclonal antibodies are man-made proteins that act like human antibodies in the immune system. There are 4 different ways they can be made and are named based on what they are made of.
  • Murine: These are made from mouse proteins and the names of the treatments end in -omab.
  • Chimeric: These proteins are a combination of part mouse and part human and the names of the treatments end in -ximab.
  • Humanized: These are made from small parts of mouse proteins attached to human proteins and the names of the treatments end in -zumab
  • Human: These are fully human proteins and the names of the treatments end in -umab.
Possible side effects of monoclonal antibodies
Monoclonal antibodies are given intravenously (injected into a vein). The antibodies themselves are proteins, so giving them can sometimes cause something like an allergic reaction. This is more common while the drug is first being given. Possible side effects can include:

  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Weakness
  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Low blood pressure
  • Rashes
 

rondaben

Veteran Member
Works well for mild cases but at higher risk for severe disease--i.e. multiple comorbidities. Can't use it as an inpatient.
 

Krayola

Veteran Member
Works well for mild cases but at higher risk for severe disease--i.e. multiple comorbidities. Can't use it as an inpatient.
So can someone high risk with multiple comorbidities use it at the beginning of the illness as an outpatient? Or are you saying high risk people need to avoid it altogether?
 

Mo Earth

Mo Earth
I know someone who received it at the first signs of Covid. She's 65 yr. and has 2 comorbidities. In 24 hours she felt great.
 
Monoclonal Antibodies and Their Side Effects

One way the body's immune system attacks foreign substances is by making large numbers of antibodies. An antibody is a protein that sticks to a specific protein called an antigen. Antibodies circulate throughout the body until they find and attach to the antigen. Once attached, they can force other parts of the immune system to destroy the cells containing the antigen.
Researchers can design antibodies that specifically target a certain antigen, such as one found on cancer cells. They can then make many copies of that antibody in the lab. These are known as monoclonal antibodies (mAbs or Moabs).
Monoclonal antibodies are used to treat many diseases, including some types of cancer. To make a monoclonal antibody, researchers first have to identify the right antigen to attack. Finding the right antigens for cancer cells is not always easy, and so far mAbs have proven to be more useful against some cancers than others.
NOTE: Some monoclonal antibodies used to treat cancer are referred to as targeted therapy because they have a specific target on a cancer cell that they aim to find, attach to, and attack. But other monoclonal antibodies act like immunotherapy because they make the immune system respond better to allow the body to find and attack cancer cells more effectively.
What mAbs are made of
Monoclonal antibodies are man-made proteins that act like human antibodies in the immune system. There are 4 different ways they can be made and are named based on what they are made of.
  • Murine: These are made from mouse proteins and the names of the treatments end in -omab.
  • Chimeric: These proteins are a combination of part mouse and part human and the names of the treatments end in -ximab.
  • Humanized: These are made from small parts of mouse proteins attached to human proteins and the names of the treatments end in -zumab
  • Human: These are fully human proteins and the names of the treatments end in -umab.
Possible side effects of monoclonal antibodies
Monoclonal antibodies are given intravenously (injected into a vein). The antibodies themselves are proteins, so giving them can sometimes cause something like an allergic reaction. This is more common while the drug is first being given. Possible side effects can include:

  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Weakness
  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Low blood pressure
  • Rashes
Alphabet soup has none of those effects, I bet.
 
Top