UK hospitals are already using monoclonal antibodies

Here is the story, note the treatment is making a very good impression:

Prof Peter Horby, who is part of Oxford University’s national Recovery trial, which aims to identify potential treatments for Covid-19, said “about three hospitals in the north” began using the drug last weekend. He said the drug was due to be rolled out to another 30 to 40 UK hospitals next week.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that the drug, REGN-COV2, was “very promising” and “very potent”.

“The class of drugs, these artificial antibodies, have been around for quite a while now, and they’ve been extensively used in inflammatory conditions and cancers, and they’re pretty safe and well understood, and so the technology is something that I think we have confidence in,” Horby said.

“This particular drug has probably been given to, I would think now, four or five hundred patients, mild or severe patients in different trials, and so far there’s been no worrying safety signals.

“In the laboratory, in cell cultures, it has a very strong effect against the virus, and there have been studies in artificial animals where it also shows benefits. So probably of the drugs that are available, it’s one of the most promising.”

Horby said a single dose of the treatment provided prolonged protection for a month to six weeks, making it “quite attractive for the older population”.

I hope Donald Trump “twists” the arms of the scientists at the FDA into speedy Emergency Use Authorization, and “politicizes” them into doing the right thing.

Twist, Donald! Yes, they are accountable too. Twist harder! That’s why we gave you the monoclonal antibodies.

And please don’t tell me in response that we can expect ordinary Americans to apply for the compassionate use exception, or sign up for clinical trials.