In a new study, researchers found that a synthetic antibody can act as a decoy to intercept and neutralize the coronavirus that leads to COVID-19 before it can cause infection.
The research was conducted by a team at Tulane University.
Scientists working to develop drugs against COVID-19 are focused on interrupting its interaction with ACE2, an enzyme the spike protein on the surface of the coronavirus latches onto, like a key, to enter and infect healthy cells.
The synthetic protein, MDR504, effectively blocked the SARS-COV-2 virus from attaching to ACE2 in cell cultures, according to the early research.
The team says unlike other agents in development against the virus, this protein is engineered to go to the lungs to neutralize the virus before it can infect lung cells.
In the study using a mouse model, they showed that the drug circulated in blood and lung tissue at levels likely to be effective against the virus.
In addition to treatment, the drug could be used as a pre- or post-exposure therapy for healthcare workers, first responders, and vulnerable populations at the highest risk.
It also could be used to prevent infection in patients with underlying illnesses who couldn’t receive a vaccine.
Preliminary research shows that the drug could work at relatively low doses.
The team thinks it would work as an injection either once every two weeks or maybe even once a month.
The concept behind the compound is similar to Enbrel, which is used to treat arthritis and other autoimmune disorders.
One author of the study is Jay Kolls, chair in internal medicine at Tulane University’s School of Medicine.
The study is published in bioRxiv, a preprint server for scholarly articles in the health sciences that are not yet peer-reviewed.
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