Commentary: Monoclonal antibodies and vaccines best bet to defeat Omicron

Its potential side effects, heatedly discussed among the FDA experts who issued a very narrow approval, include potential birth defects and the possible mutagenesis of the virus itself, essentially supercharging the virus’ ability to create highly mutated variants. The side effects of other pills awaiting further study are still unknown.

PRODUCTION COSTS AND BURDEN OF DELIVERY

The challenge with applying the belt-and-suspenders approach in the past has been the cost of production and the burden of delivery of first-generation monoclonal antibodies.

Initially, the therapies could be administered only intravenously, in a clinical setting, over a period of hours. To be effective, the dose needed to be delivered shortly after symptoms appeared and before severe illness set in.

Between the high costs and the extra administrative demand placed on overburdened healthcare systems, this treatment option simply could not have been applied broadly as a preventive tool. Instead, it was limited to the select few who could both afford and access the required facilities.

But now there is a new generation of antibody treatments that can be administered by injection in a nonclinical setting, at a cost of roughly US$400 per gram (according to my conversations with Indian manufacturers of monoclonal antibodies).

At that price, a single dose should cost no more than US$500, while still allowing room for profit. Admittedly, US$500 is a relatively steep price if the treatment is used broadly as a means of prevention.

Nonetheless, it is far lower than the thousands of dollars a single intravenous infusion costs, and it pales in comparison to the cost of caring for a person hospitalised with COVID-19. Either way, these treatments offer a compelling return on investment.

 

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