PrEP for COVID-19: A Possibility

Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for COVID-19? Why Not?

Because of the urgency of COVID-19 worldwide, the solution may be something unconventional. In other words, if we are going to rely on traditional vaccine and drug development, that will take a long time—a year or more.

There are a couple of interesting developments.

mRNA

A new vaccine technology, mRNA, is being investigated. mRNA technology is a way to manufacture vaccines in large numbers.

A vaccine using this technology (Moderna Therapeutics, Cambridge MA) has begun a Phase 1 trial to test for safety. They found that after two doses of this vaccine, patients had high levels of antibody, similar to that seen in patients who had COVID infection.

There are no vaccines using mRNA technology that are approved currently anywhere in the world.

This shows the spikes on COVID 19 that attach to human tissue.

Antibody (Sorrento Therapeutics)

The company is testing a “cocktail” approach with multiple antibodies. The premise is that certain of these antibodies will prevent COVID 19 from attaching to human cells and block infection.