Trump’s Covid-19 Treatment is Regeneron’s Unapproved Antibody Drug

“They’re not going to just sit around and watch to see if he gets sick,” Boulware said.

How antibodies work

Antibodies are proteins the body makes when an infection occurs; they attach to a virus and help the immune system eliminate it.

Vaccines trick the body into thinking there’s an infection so it makes these antibodies. But it can take weeks for them to form after natural infection or a vaccine.

Read also: Ensure Covid-19 Vaccine is Halal, Says Indonesia's Vice President

The drugs aim to give that protection immediately, by supplying concentrated versions of one or two antibodies that worked best against the coronavirus in lab and animal tests.

Regeneron’s drug contains two antibodies to enhance the chances that it will work. The company previously developed a successful Ebola treatment from an antibody combo.

What's known so far

The drug is given as a one-time treatment through an IV.

In multiple studies, Regeneron is testing it both for preventing infection and in people already infected, like Trump, to try to prevent serious illness or death.