The COVID-19 health emergency is set to end in a few months as the time of year when viruses are most rampant is coming to a close. But even so, there is a new growing concern about COVID-19 regarding its variants and how they are treated.
Monoclonal antibodies, which were a key tool to combating the disease, are now ineffective against some new variants. That means a crucial group of COVID-19 antibody drugs are no longer working. According to health officials, this is putting immunocompromised patients at high risk.
Monoclonal antibodies are meant to boost the immune system and keep high-risk patients out of the hospital. But the antibodies have failed to keep up as the virus continues to evolve and mutate.
Some antiviral drugs, such as Paxlovid, are still said to be effective against omicron variants. While the Merck antiviral drug is said to be creating new mutations of the coronavirus.
