Introduction
Neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) that target key domains of the spike protein in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) may have therapeutic value because of their specificity. Depending on the targeted epitope, single agents may be effective, but combined treatment involving multiple NAbs may be necessary to prevent the emergence of resistant variants.
Areas covered
This article highlights the accelerated regulatory processes established to facilitate the review and approval of potential therapies. An overview of treatment approaches for SARS-CoV-2 infection, with detailed examination of the preclinical and clinical evidence supporting the use of NAbs, is provided. Finally, insights are offered into the potential benefits and challenges associated with the use of these agents.
Expert opinion
NAbs offer an effective, evidence-based therapeutic intervention during the early stages of SARS-CoV-2 infection when viral replication is the primary factor driving disease progression. As the pandemic progresses, appropriate use of NAbs will be important to minimize the risk of escape variants. Ultimately, the availability of effective treatments for COVID-19 will allow the establishment of treatment algorithms for minimizing the substantial rates of hospitalization, morbidity (including long COVID) and mortality currently associated with the disease.
BACKGROUND: Long-term mental health outcomes were characterized in patients who were diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), and risk factors for the development of mental health disorders were identified. METHODS: Patients who were diagnosed with HL between 1997 and 2014 were identified in the Utah Cancer Registry. Each patient was matched with up to five individuals from a general population cohort identified within the Utah Population Database, a unique source of linked records that includes patient and demographic data. RESULTS: In total, 795 patients who had HL were matched with 3575 individuals from the general population. Compared with the general population, patients who had HL had a higher risk of any mental health diagnosis (hazard ratio, 1.77; 95% confidence interval, 1.57-2.00). Patients with HL had higher risks of anxiety, depression, substance-related disorders, and suicide and intentional selfinflicted injuries compared with the general population. The main risk factor associated with an increased risk of being diagnosed with mental health disorders was undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, with a hazard ratio of 2.06 (95% confidence interval, 1.53-2.76). The diagnosis of any mental health disorder among patients with HL was associated with a detrimental impact on overall survival; the 10-year overall survival rate was 70% in patients who had a mental health diagnosis compared with 86% in those patients without a mental health diagnosis (p < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients who had HL had an increased risk of various mental health disorders compared with a matched general population. The current data illustrate the importance of attention to mental health in HL survivorship, particularly for patients who undergo therapy with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.