Fruitful Neutralizing Antibody Pipeline Brings Hope To Defeat SARS-Cov-2

With the recent spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2)_ infecting >16 million people worldwide as of 28 July 2020, causing >650 000 deaths, there is a desperate need for therapeutic agents and vaccines. Building on knowledge of previous outbreaks of SARS-CoV-1 and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), the development of therapeutic antibodies and vaccines against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is taking place at an unprecedented speed. Current efforts towards the development of neutralizing antibodies against COVID-19 are summarized. We also highlight the importance of a fruitful antibody development pipeline to combat the potential escape plans of SARS-CoV-2, including somatic mutations and antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE). Highlights We are currently experiencing an explosion of antibody research to combat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) that includes neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and therapeutic antibodies against COVID-19-associated hyperinflammation. Eight neutralizing antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2; LY-CoV555, JS016, REGN-COV2, TY027, BRII-196, BRII-198, CT-P59, and SCTA01) have now entered clinical trials (as of 28 July 2020). SARS-CoV-2 may develop resistance to neutralizing antibodies by accumulating spontaneous mutations. Neutralizing antibodies also may show antibody-dependent enhancement and amplify disease progression.