Research takes significant steps in the fight against Covid-19 every day. And in fact, after the encouraging results on the availability of the vaccine soon, confirmation that antibody-based drugs could also be effective in treatment. We had talked about it too, announcing an important Made in Italy milestone. Now the confirmation on antibodies comes directly from the Higher Institute of Health.
Effective treatments to combat the pandemic
Research on antibodies, therefore, it appears to have achieved significant strides. This was confirmed by the president of the Higher Institute of Health Silvio Brusaferro during the hearing in the Social Affairs Committee of the Chamber. "It is extremely important - he said - and is seeing the development of drugs that are partly already available internationally and will be available nationally next year. This will represent an important tool, available from the first months of next year, to control and mitigate the infection in some more fragile subjects or if there are levels of severity that need support.".
Medicines with antibodies, effective treatments for patients
As Brusaferro argues, therefore, waiting for the effective vaccine to combat the spread of infections, for the treatment of patients already affected by the virus, specific drugs could be used. Much research has been done in recent months on these treatments. Antibodies from the camelid family also appear to be effective. But these are treatments that would be useful, however, not for all infected patients. Only for the less severe ones. But it is still a significant step forward in the world of research.
However, Brusaferro clarified some aspects of hyperimmune plasma, taken from convalescent patients and administered to seriously ill patients. "Our country - has explained - developed the Tsunami protocol which coordinates many centers and which defined a sample of people to be recruited". The number of recruits dropped in the summer as infections dropped, but now, "unfortunately, with the restart of the epidemic, cases have grown and the enrollment of patients has resumed. The first scientific conclusions can be drawn within a few weeks".
First doses of vaccines available early next year
And so as the various regions and the most populous cities adopt measures ever closer to total lockdowns, with the closure of schools and businesses, the research does its part. Not just cures though. In fact, from mid-January onwards, the first doses of the vaccine may be available. But at first, only a few categories will benefit from them. Like the police and the most fragile sections of the population. But the researchers are convinced that the conditions are all there to reach a significant turning point.
