CHEMISTRY-2020

Antibody Drug Therapy

Treatment that uses antibodies to help the body fight cancer, infection, or different diseases. Antibodies are proteins  created by the immune system that bind to specific markers on cells or tissues. Monoclonal antibodies are a type of antibody created within the laboratory that can be used in diagnosis or treatment. In cancer treatment, monoclonal antibodies may kill cancer cells directly, they may block development of tumor blood vessels, or they may help the immune system kill cancer cells. Several doses of the monoclonal antibody drugs that treat gentle to moderate COVID-19 are sitting unused around the country. There are logistical problems with providing these drugs and skepticism over whether they work or not work.  However two major health systems have had good success in deploying these medications, and they are reporting hopeful results.