The only Indian company Zydus Cadila which claims to have developed neutralising monoclonal antibodies (mAbs)-based cocktail for the treatment of COVID-19 has been given permission to conduct clinical trials by the Subject Expert Committee (SEC) of Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), according to sources.
“SEC gives a recommendation for the Phase I and II clinical trials of Zydus Cadila’s biological therapy ZRC-3308, a cocktail of two SARS-CoV-2-neutralising monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that can emerge as one of the main treatments for mild COVID-19,” said the sources.
These antibodies are made by cloning unique white blood cells. Domestic pharmaceutical major Zydus Cadila has sought the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) permission recently to undertake clinical trials.
Zydus said that its biological therapy ZRC-3308, a cocktail of two SARS-CoV-2-neutralising monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) can emerge as one of the main treatments for mild COVID-19.
Currently, some of the hospitals are administering the cocktail of two fast-acting anti-bodies – Casirivimab and Imdevimab, the batch of the Roche Antibody Cocktail drug arrived in the country on May 24. The cost of a single antibody cockatail is Rs 59,750
Another antibody cocktail that has received permission is Eli Lilly and Company, India announced that it has received permission for restricted emergency use of its antibody drugs, bamlanivimab 700mg and etesevimab 1400mg, in India for the treatment of patients with mild to moderate coronavirus disease 2019.
What are antibody cocktails?
A combination of two antibodies made in laboratories, antibody cocktails are designed to block the virus attachment on human cells and blocks its entry into the body. The cocktail is also effective against the spread of the COVID-19 virus and its different variants. When injected, it imitates the immune system to protect the human body from dangerous pathogens.
Once the virus enters the cells of the patient it derives nutrition from there to multiply further. This is where the antibody cocktail comes into play. Once injected in coronavirus patients at an early stage these antibodies block the virus from entering the cells.
