An agreement was signed between International AIDS vaccine Initiative, (IAVI), a non-profit organization (PPP) and Serum Institute of India (SII), which is one of the world’s largest vaccine producers by volume, with Merck, one of the leading American multinational pharmaceutical companies, to develop SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.

The antibodies would be of neutralizing monoclonal types (mABs) as this category has been considered as one of the promising candidates for the treatment and prevention of Covid19.

IAVI and Scripps Research, which is a non-profit American biomedical research facility, have co-invented the antibodies as an innovatory intervention to contain the global spread of the Covid19 pandemic. This agreement has been built up on the advanced antibody discovery and optimizing the expertise of IAVI and Scripps research earning from years of experience in HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) neutralizing antibody research. It has also used and developed on the  significant competency of Merck’s in design and the capacity of SII to scale up production, to fasten the manufacturing process for mAbs.

For this health developmental plan against the pandemic with a global reach and impact, the three organizations are working with the same goal. If the highly powerful and broadly cross-reactive SARS-CoV neutralizing antibody candidate makes progress and show promising results in clinical trials, either as single antibody or a potential combination of both candidates, then Merck will lead the commercialization of the breakthrough research in developed countries.

The CEO of IAVI, Mark Feinberg asserted in a statement that his organization is aware of the enormous potential of the monoclonal antibodies to be used in Covid-19 response. He also added that by mixing the scientific achievements of IAVI and Scripps Research with the development, manufacturing, and distribution expertise of the partner, the result can be globally accessible antibodies that are available to every person in the world. SII, in India, will play an important role in manufacturing and also in worldwide commercialization of the mABs for Coronavirus in low and middle-income countries.

Belén Garijo, the vice-chair of the executive board and Deputy CEO, Merck, as well as CEO Healthcare, said, “Together with IAVI and Serum Institute, we look forward to demonstrating the potential application of these monoclonal antibodies in the management of Covid-19. We share a common purpose to accelerate this promising science and deliver effective solutions that address global challenges presented by this pandemic.”

There are other innovative therapies apart from the SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies, all of which are urgently needed for an immediate response to the pandemic. Such treatment innovations like mABs will be probably needed even after an effective vaccine is available. The mAbs have the potential to play an important complementary role to Covid-19 vaccines, both for treatment and potentially for prevention. Such antibodies would be especially important for those individuals who due to age or medical conditions, may not benefit from vaccination.

Many experts speculate that Covid-19 will subsequently become an endemic or a permanently circulating disease. It is evinced from the severity of symptoms in a significant proportion of people affected. Hence, effective therapies like mABs will be necessary to treat those who remain unvaccinated.

The author is a student member of Amity Centre of Happiness.