Amid the urgency to test and improve possible treatments for COVID-19, laboratory antibodies are showing signs of success. In press releases, the two companies announced preliminary results, sharing only limited data, claiming that test drugs could help patients with early and late infection.

A clinical trial of monoclonal antibodies - man-made versions of body-produced immune system protectors - suggests that medications may help keep those hospitalized with COVID-19 from needing a ventilator or dying. The second test shows that the drugs may reduce the level of coronavirus in recent sufferers and help reduce a person's chances of hospitalization.

Antibodies are part of the body's natural defense against infectious germs. Proteins usually attach to parts of bacteria or viruses. In the laboratory, scientists can identify specific targets that prevent engineers from responding to the virus by releasing versions of antibodies or preventing the body's immune system from overreacting to the virus (SN: 2/21/20).