Purpose After nearly 3 years of the COVID-19 pandemic, even though a vast body of knowledge and products (including vaccines and treatments) have been developed and disseminated, the virus is still evolving and new variants arising. Consequently, thousands of lives continue to be lost. Neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (nAbs) are promising drugs that emerged to treat SARS-CoV-2. In the uncertainty of the current situation, there is the question of whether organizations should continue to invest in this technology. To help decision-making in scientifical and pharmaceutical organizations, it is of major importance to monitor the development of products and technologies. Therefore, the aim of this study is analyze the landscape of nAbs for COVID-19. Methods The scenario of 473 biotherapeutics focusing on nAbs was evaluated using foresight techniques and a review of literature. Data were obtained from structured and semi-structured databases and processed for treatment, cleaning, consistency, validation, and enrichment. Results We identified 227 nAbs and performed an extensive literature review of 16 nAbs in late clinical development, including development technologies, responses to variants of concern (VOCs), manufacturing, and clinical aspects. Conclusions Even though the emergence of new VOCs is a threat to the effectiveness of this treatment, demanding constant genomic surveillance, the use of nAbs to treat and prevent COVID-19 will probably continue to be relevant due to excellent safety profiles and the possibility of immediate immunity transfer, especially in patients showing inadequate immunological response to vaccination. Therefore, we suggest that organizations should keep investing in improvements in this technology.

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Objectives: The present report describes the physicochemical characterization and posterior use of a yellow fever virus (YFV) antigenic protein for detection of antibody against YF. Yellow Fever (YF) is a viral infectious disease which can be transmitted to humans. The yellow fever virus (YFV) belongs to the Flavivirus genus and its genome encodes three structural proteins and seven non-structural proteins. The 17D vaccine protects against YF and is used worldwide in vaccination programs. Techniques for YF diagnosis are crucial for correct identification, prevention, control and reporting of this infection and lateral flow immunochromatography is a serological technique employed for the rapid, simple and economical detection of infectious diseases. Methods: The protein was analyzed by isoelectric focusing (pH range 3.0 -9.0), SDS-PAGE 12.5% and it was evaluated for detection of virus specific human immunoglobulin M (IgM) using MAC-ELISA. Lateral flow test components were evaluated in the immunochromatography model, such as different nitrocellulose membranes, variable antigen and immunogold conjugate concentrations and distinct running buffer formulations. Positive serum samples of individuals infected and vaccinated with the YF 17DD vaccine, unvaccinated negative and positive control antibody were used to evaluate a test prototype.Results: Tests showed that recombinant YFV antigen did not cross-react with Dengue positive sera in MAC-ELISA. One prototype test showed 78.5% of sensitivity and 100% of specificity using serum samples of vaccinated individuals positive for immunoglobulin G (IgG).

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