According to the results of the phase 1 clinical trial, a single dose of a new monoclonal antibody (mAb) is safe and highly protective in adults exposed to the malaria parasite. Researchers from the US National Institute of Health led the trial of the monoclonal antibody L9LS. The monoclonal antibody L9LS is a laboratory-made version of a naturally occurring antibody L9, derived from the blood of volunteers who had received an investigational malaria vaccine.

The antibody prevents malaria by neutralizing the parasites present in the skin and blood. This prevents the parasite from infecting the liver cells, thus protecting them from malarial infection. Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, stated that the results from early clinical trials have demonstrated that a monoclonal antibody administered via subcutaneous root can protect people from malarial infection. He added that the new antibody is a one-time intervention that can protect against malaria for six months to a year. It also reduces the risk of morbidity and mortality among children in malaria-endemic regions and offers an effective preventive tool for healthcare workers, military personnel, and travelers to these regions.

L9LS was one of the many antimalarial antibody candidates that were found to be 2-3 times more potent. Also, its potency increases when administered through subcutaneous injection. The details of the trial are published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

(Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2022/08/05/new-monoclonal-antibody-shows-promise-against-malaria/)