Evusheld: The Next Big Leap in Antibody Therapy
Ben Yurovsky | May 5th, 2023
Although it’s no longer at the forefront of news, Covid-19 is still around. Consequently, many people are uncertain as to how they can best protect themselves from being infected by the virus in a world that seems to have forgotten about it. Of the general population, the people that find themselves in the greatest panic, both now and at the height of the pandemic, are the immunocompromised. What options do the immunocompromised have to protect themselves from Covid-19?
Enter Evusheld. Evusheld is a vaccine that was developed by the Vanderbilt Vaccine Center, in conjunction with AstraZeneca, in June 2020 with the goal of combatting the rising Covid-19 pandemic. The Evusheld technology uses a combination of monoclonal antibodies, and works by shielding those whose immune systems are compromised, prior to becoming ill with Covid-19.
Excitingly, Evusheld’s technology was researched, developed and published in Vanderbilt’s very own Vaccine Center (VVC). The VVC, which is a part of the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, consists of an elite collection of doctors, scientists, and researchers who spent considerable time perfecting this medication. The bulk of the center’s research leading up to the production of Evusheld was centered on various pathogens that would impact somebody with a compromised immune system. The research and development that led to the creation of Evusheld was spearheaded by Dr. James Crowe Jr. In addition to being a professor of pediatrics, pathology, microbiology and immunology, Dr. Crowe Jr. serves as the director of the Vanderbilt Vaccine Center.
Although the more popular Covid-19 vaccines such as Pfizer and Moderna combat the disease with incredible efficiency, they fail to protect those with compromised immune systems to the same extent. Thus, Evusheld can be seen as an additional protective measure that can be taken by those who are very concerned about catching the virus.
Evusheld is not some rather new and unpolished vaccine alternative. In its incredibly short time of existence, the technology has already racked up countless awards and accomplishments. Some of these include the top prize in the 2022 R&D Awards, the 2022 Harrington Prize for Innovation in Medicine, and expedited authorization from the FDA in December 2021. As Evusheld gains popularity and accessibility, I urge readers to keep up with the Vanderbilt Vaccine Center and their various new developments.
Works Cited
James E. Crowe, Jr., MD. James E. Crowe, Jr., MD | Vanderbilt Vaccine Center. (n.d.). Retrieved February 27, 2023, from https://www.vumc.org/vvc/person/james-e-crowe-jr-md
Kemp, A. (n.d.). Evusheld long-acting antibody combination approved in the EU for the treatment of COVID-19. Retrieved February 28, 2023, from https://www.astrazeneca.com/media-centre/press-releases/2022/evusheld-approved-in-eu-for-covid-19-treatment.html
Shapiro, M. (1970, December 5). Two Vanderbilt faculty win ‘time’ best inventions of 2022. Vanderbilt University. Retrieved February 27, 2023, from https://news.vanderbilt.edu/2022/12/05/two-vanderbilt-faculty-win-time-best-inventions-of-2022/ TPS to hold covid-19 vaccine clinics. Toledo Public Schools. (n.d.). Retrieved February 27, 2023, from https://www.tps.org/discover_tps/news/t_p_s_to_hold_c_o_v_i_d-19_vaccine_clinics
Image Credits
“File:Antigen-antibody-complex.png” by Alejandro Porto is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/?ref=openverse.
