On July 22, the first batch of domestic COVID-19 medicines Amubarvimab and Romlusevimab (BRII-196, BRII-198) were officially warehoused in the Guangzhou Eighth People's Hospital. BRII-196 and BRII-198 are two anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal neutralizing antibodies, which require cold-chain transportation throughout the whole process.
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Deng Xilong, Director of the Department of Critical Care Medicine of Guangzhou Eighth People's Hospital, revealed that the hospital had participated in the second phase of clinical trial of the medicines. Results show that patients can obtain antibodies in a short period to stop the virus from further invading the lungs through intravenous injection.
"These medicines are not equal to preventive drugs." Deng Xilong said that the antibody drugs and small-molecule drugs are more suitable for high-risk people, common people do not need to buy and use them as preventive drugs.
Currently, BRII-196 and BRII-198 are mainly intended for high-risk groups with weak immune functions or who may develop severe disease.
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Studies have shown that patients with severe underlying diseases have a higher risk of developing severe conditions after infection with COVID-19, such as patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, severe cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease, and those who with tumors are undergoing chemotherapy.
These patients either have little resistance to the virus or are prone to aggravation of the underlying disease after infection, and they can gain resistance through antibody infusion to avoid further invasion of the virus. Patients only need to have intravenous injection once, and the antibody titer peaks in about six hours and will last for three to six months.
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The small-molecule drugs and antibody drugs that have been listed in China have both benefits and drawbacks. Among some high-risk groups, some individuals may not be suitable for taking small-molecule drugs due to abnormal liver and kidney function. Therefore, doctors will consider using antibody drugs. However, small-molecule drugs are more convenient and can be taken orally twice a day, so a wider range of people can choose them, while antibody drugs require intravenous injection and need to be administered in the hospital.
Both kinds of drugs emphasize the best efficacy when used within five days after infection, however, for antibody drugs, it can be increased to 5 to 10 days.
Author | Hannah, Lanting (intern)
Editor | Wing, Olivia, Monica, Jerry
