Accidental discovery: Monoclonal antibody could help with severe virus infections
Scientists from Salzburg have discovered a potential new treatment for severe virus infections in a 38-year-old patient who was simultaneously infected with SARS-CoV-2 and Hantavirus. The patient was treated with a monoclonal antibody Eculizumab that inhibits the complement system. The complement system is a part of the immune system that can become overactivated during a virus infection and can lead to organ damage.
After a single infusion of the antibody, the patient's laboratory values normalized. The doctors believe that the two infections together had exacerbated the patient's kidney problems.
The researchers now want to investigate in further studies whether the antibody is also effective in other severe virus infections.
