BioCentury
ARTICLE | Cover Story

Anti-flubodies

March 5, 2009 8:00 AM UTC

Two separate teams have isolated human antibodies that neutralize many variants of influenza antigen hemagglutinin A and prevent viral entry and infection. Both teams are developing their antibodies as therapeutics but are going after different markets: one is targeting pandemic flu outbreaks whereas the other wants to use its antibodies to treat or prevent seasonal flu in immunocompromised populations.

Though potentially useful additions to the anti-influenza armamentarium, the antibodies are not likely to replace vaccines as the primary defense against the disease...