Monoclonal Cocktails and Covid-19

There is some encouraging news on the use of cocktails of monoclonal antibodies, in so-called 'passive immunisation'. In this treatment, patients get ready-made antibodies, rather than being stimulated to produce their own by vaccination (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-regeneron-pharms-idUSKBN29V1DY?utm_campaign=trueAnthem%3A%20Trending%20Content&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_). Regeneron Pharmaceuticals have reported a trial of their 2-antibody cocktail REGEN-COV. The preparation was given to 400 participants, living in households, where a member was already infected with Covid-19. It produced 100% reduction in symptomatic infection and a roughly 50% decline in overall infection. Eli Lilley have claimed that, in a trial, their bamlanivimab preparation cut the risk of a Covid-19 infection by 80% in vulnerable nursing home residents. There was a death and a hospitalisation in the placebo group but people getting active preparations were fine. It's still early days but things are looking good for these preparations. They are likely to become a treatment of last resort.