Technologies

Regen-COV might work before COVID exposure, trial shows: What to know about monoclonal antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies can greatly reduce hospitalization rates in people most at risk of severe COVID-19.

For the most up-to-date news and information about the coronavirus pandemic, visit the WHO and CDC websites.

Monoclonal antibody therapy for COVID-19 is available to people in the US for free who are at higher risk of severe disease in the first few days of their illness, or after they’ve been exposed to the coronavirus. The treatment — lab-made antibodies given to a person that help their immune system stop the infection from spreading — has proven to be a key tool for preventing the coronavirus from turning into severe illness. Preliminary research shows the treatment reduces risk for hospitalization or death by about 70%.

Now, early research is showing the treatment may benefit people much earlier on, before they’ve even been exposed to the coronavirus. Regeneron, one of the drug-makers of the antibody treatments, announced Monday that its drug was 81.6% effective in preventing COVID-19 in a trial period of two to eight months post-treatment. The drug in the study, which is called Regen-COV and was given to participants in a series of four injections, is the same drug as the one currently authorized for use on at-risk people who are in the early stages of COVID-19, and on some people who’ve been exposed to it.

Dr. Myron Cohen, who leads the monoclonal antibody efforts for the National Institutes of Health’s COVID Prevention Network, said in a news release Monday that the results from the drug-maker are «particularly important to those who do not respond to COVID-19 vaccines, including people who are immunocompromised.»

Regen-COV isn’t authorized yet for use in anyone who hasn’t been exposed to or is sick with COVID-19. A few monoclonal antibody therapies, including the one made by Regeneron, have emergency use authorization by the US Food and Drug Administration and should be accessible in doctors’ offices or even some state-run clinics, as seen in states such as Florida and Texas.

Importantly, monoclonal antibodies don’t replace the role of the COVID-19 vaccines in preventing hospitalization and death. According to data from August by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, unvaccinated people were more than 11 times more likely to die from COVID-19 and about 6 times more likely to contract COVID-19 than fully vaccinated people.

A large number of Americans could be eligible for monoclonal antibody treatment if they test positive for COVID-19 (a smaller number would be eligible for the treatment without a positive test, and only a confirmed exposure). For example, everyone age 65 or older, people who are overweight, people with heart, liver, or kidney disease and many more would be eligible for the treatment in the early days of their symptoms.

Here’s what we know now about COVID-19 monoclonal antibodies.

What are monoclonal antibodies, and how do they work?

Monoclonal antibodies are lab-made antibodies that work by binding to bacteria, cancer cells or viruses the way natural antibodies do, stopping them from infecting more cells. The first monoclonal antibody therapy was approved more than 30 years ago and has been used for other illnesses, including the Ebola virus.

Monoclonal antibody treatments for COVID-19 are used before a person gets really sick, usually within 10 days of their first symptom, to prevent hospitalization. The treatment is only approved for people who are at risk of getting extremely sick — those who are age 65 or older and those who have «certain medical conditions,» per the FDA. The same treatment isn’t recommended for people who are already hospitalized with COVID-19.

Monoclonal antibody therapy is also authorized if an at-risk person is exposed to COVID-19, but the definition of «at-risk» in this instance, per the FDA, is a little narrower and reserved for people who are at risk because of a medical condition and unvaccinated or not fully protected by the COVID-19 vaccines because of an immunocompromising condition.

I tested positive. How do I know if I’m eligible?

If you come down with the coronavirus and are concerned about how the disease will affect you, contacting your doctor to learn your options and the best line of treatment for you is a good idea. But, in general, this specific treatment is reserved for people who are at risk for severe disease. Most people who are infected with COVID-19 will recover at home without medical help.

The people who test positive for COVID-19 and would be eligible or benefit from monoclonal antibody therapy may also be the same people who are eligible for COVID-19 vaccine boosters because of a medical condition. For those who are at risk of severe COVID-19 and would be eligible for monoclonal antibodies if they test positive (if they’re at least 12 years old and weigh at least 88 pounds) the FDA defines «at risk» under the EUA as:

All people age 65 and older.
People with obesity or those who are overweight (adults with a BMI of more than 25, and children age 12-17 who have a BMI at the 85th percentile or greater).
Pregnant people.
People with cancer.
People with chronic kidney or lung disease.
Individuals with cardiovascular disease or hypertension.
People with diabetes.
People with sickle cell disease.
Those living with neurodevelopmental disorders.
People who are immunocompromised or taking immunocompromising medication.
Those who have a «medical-related technological dependence» (such as a tracheostomy or gastrostomy).

However, the FDA stressed in a fact sheet for Eli Lilly’s treatment (another brand of monoclonal antibodies) that this isn’t a complete list, and other medical conditions or factors including race or ethnicity may also place individuals at higher risk for severe COVID-19. It also pointed to the CDC’s list of «people with certain medical conditions» for other health conditions, which includes things such as depression and Down syndrome as being high-risk conditions.

In sum: If you test positive and feel you are at risk for severe COVID-19 and might qualify for monoclonal antibodies, you should probably speak to a health care professional about them.

Does vaccine status matter?

No, people who test positive for COVID-19 and are eligible for monoclonal antibody therapy because of their age or health condition can be treated regardless of their vaccination status. That is because, while still protective, the vaccines may be less effective at preventing severe disease in some people than others.

However, being unvaccinated might make you eligible for monoclonal antibodies after an exposure to someone with COVID-19. According to the FDA’s authorization of Regen-COV for post-exposure, people eligible for post-exposure treatment must be at risk of severe COVID-19 disease, and either unvaccinated or vaccinated but immunocompromised or taking immunocompromising medications.

I qualify. How do I access the treatment?

Monoclonal antibodies are administered by IV (most commonly) or by injection, so they’re not a prescription you can easily pick up at the pharmacy. According to CNN, the infusion process takes about an hour and patients need to wait a while to be observed for side effects. If you’re at risk for severe COVID-19 and you’ve tested positive or think you have it, ask your doctor where the treatment is available.

If you live in Texas or Florida where there are state-run monoclonal antibody treatment centers, the same eligibility requirements for patients apply. In Florida, this means everyone age 12 and older who is at «high risk for severe illness» can make an appointment and find a monoclonal treatment center at one of the state’s eight locations. In Texas, there are nine antibody infusion centers across the state, but at-risk people need a referral from their doctor.

If you think you qualify for monoclonal antibody treatment but don’t have a health care provider, you can call the Combat COVID Monoclonal Antibodies Call Center at 1-877-332-6585. You can also use this link from the US Department of Health and Human Services antibody therapy finder.

Do monoclonal antibodies interfere with the coronavirus vaccines?

If you were treated with monoclonal antibodies and you haven’t been vaccinated yet, you should wait 90 days after your treatment to make an appointment, according to the CDC. This recommendation is until more is known about how the antibody response from the treatment affects the immune response from getting vaccinated.

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.

Technologies

We Played Nintendo Switch 2: Mario, Donkey Kong, Mouse, Camera and a Lot More

Technologies

Nintendo Switch 2: Every Reveal About the Console, New Games, Price, Release Date

The $450 console launches June 5, with Mario Kart World the highlight of its launch day game lineup.

The Nintendo Switch 2 console’s biggest reveal yet arrived Wednesday as part of the company’s latest Nintendo Direct event. This teed up a day of Switch 2 reveals that include its June 5 release date, a $450 price, its specs and its initial game lineup that extends from launch into 2026.

The console will be further buoyed by having Mario Kart World as a launch title, which will go on sale in either a $500 bundle with the Switch 2 or on its own for $80 — making the open-world racing game one of Nintendo’s most expensive yet. Other games announced, such as Donkey Kong Bananza, are being priced around $70, which matches the cost of 2023’s The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. That Zelda game and Breath of the Wild are among the original Switch titles that will get enhanced Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrades, a premium upgrade allowing players to get new features, modes and graphical enhancements that take advantage of the newer system’s capabilities.

Here are the top highlights from Nintendo’s console event, all of the games we’ve heard about so far (including new titles, Nintendo Switch 2 Editions and GameCube games coming to Nintendo Switch Online) and all of our coverage so far. You can also check out our Nintendo Switch 2 live blog for even more updates about the Switch 2 as we learn them.

Nintendo Switch 2 console

The Nintendo Switch 2’s specs saw a noticeable technical bump over the Switch. The Nintendo Switch 2 has a 7.9-inch, 1080p resolution LCD that supports a 120Hz refresh rate — matching what we now see on most Android phones. When the Switch 2 is docked, compatible games can run in 4K resolution. The new dock also includes a cooling fan.

The Switch 2 comes with 256GB of internal storage, and the new Switch 2 Game Cards will load games faster. For digital libraries, however, the Switch 2 will only work with microSD Express cards, which are different from the microSD cards that are compatible with the prior Nintendo Switch. Nintendo will have a Software Transfer feature available to help move games and data from the original Switch to the Switch 2.

The new Joy-Con for the controllers will support mouse controls, and a new C button will be part of a new GameChat communication feature that allows both voice and video chat. There’s also a Nintendo Switch 2 Camera, allowing players to see each other.

The Switch 2 also adds a second USB-C port to the top of the system, which Nintendo says can help connect its new camera accessory or charge the console when playing in tabletop mode. Nintendo also revealed a new Switch 2 Pro Controller with the C button and customizable GL and GR buttons on the back.

Following the presentation, Nintendo unveiled the system’s price of $450 in the US. It will also sell the Switch 2 bundled with a digital version of Mario Kart World for $500.

Mario Kart World

Mario Kart World removes its traditional boundaries and lets drivers roam freely across an entire world of race courses. The game will get its own Nintendo Direct later this month, where we’ll see additional details, but we already know it’ll include traditional races and a Free Roam mode, much like in the Forza Horizon series.

Getting the game bundled for an extra $50 on the cost of the Switch 2 might be the move if you are interested in the game, because Nintendo announced on its website that standalone copies of Mario Kart World will cost $80.

Joy-Con 2 C button and GameChat

Nintendo’s rolling out its new C button across several new Switch 2 controllers. The button will be used for the new GameChat communication features without a headset. The button will be used alongside a microphone on the console itself, which Nintendo says can be used whether it’s docked to a TV or in handheld mode.

In its teaser video, Nintendo promises the microphone will be able to cancel out loud background noises. GameChat will also work with a Nintendo Switch 2 Camera, allowing video chat and various camera-based game modes in supported titles. GameChat will be free at launch through March 31, 2026.

Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games upgrade titles

The Nintendo Switch 2 will play three types of games: original Switch games, Switch 2 games and Switch 2 Edition games that will receive substantial enhancements. For many of these Switch 2 Edition games, you’ll need to buy an upgrade pack if you own the original for Switch. Many of them will get more than just enhanced graphics in the upgrade; for example, Super Mario Party Jamboree will get new games that support the new Joy-Cons’ mouse controls, audio recognition and video camera gameplay options through the Switch 2 Camera.

Other Nintendo Switch games that are getting Switch 2 Edition options include The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild, The Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Metroid Prime 4 Beyond and Pokemon Legends: Z-A. Enhancements vary: The Zelda games will start working with a companion phone app for maps and sending schematics to friends, while Kirby will get a new story that’s exclusive to the Switch 2 Edition. On the third-party side, Civilization 7 will get mouse controls.

Nintendo did not announce what upgrade packs will cost. However, some Switch games will get free updates that will improve performance or enhance features when playing them on the Switch 2. The Switch games getting these updates include:

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is a new game set in the world of Zelda that tells the story that leads into The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. This appears to be similar to how Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity told the story of a war that led to the events of Breath of the Wild. The teaser shows Zelda discovering that she’s arrived in the past of Hyrule, and the game will expand on how she gets involved in the corresponding Imprisonment War.

Nintendo Switch 2 games

Several other first- and third-party games were spotlighted during the Switch 2 Direct. These include Donkey Bananza, one of the first 3D platforming games featuring DK since 1999’s Donkey Kong 64. Kirby will also return to the racing genre in Kirby Air Riders, which comes more than 20 years after the GameCube racer Kirby’s Air Ride. DragXDrive will use mouse controls to control a futuristic wheelchair basketball game in which players will simulate push and pull motions to control their character.

An onslaught of Switch 2 third-party games were quickly shuffled through during the Direct, which I list below. An unnamed James Bond game is in development at Hitman studio IO Interactive, as is a darker title from Elden Ring creator FromSoftware called The Duskbloods, which will be exclusive to the Switch 2.

The full list of announced Nintendo Switch 2 games includes:

Borderlands 4
Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster
Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition
Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion
Deltarune
Donkey Kong Bananza
Drag x Drive
EA Sports FC
EA Sports Madden NFL
Elden Ring Tarnished Edition
Enter the Gungeon 2
Fast Fusion
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade
Fortnite
Hades 2
Hitman World of Assassination — Signature Edition
Hogwarts Legacy
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment
Kirby Air Riders
Kirby and the Forgotten Land — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition and Star-Crossed World
Kunitsu-Gai: Path of the Goddess
Mario Kart World
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
NBA 2K
Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening Complete Edition
Pokemon Legends: Z-A — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
Project 007
Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
Sid Meier’s Civilization 7 — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
Split Fiction
Star Wars Outlaws
Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions
Street Fighter 6
Super Mario Party Jamboree — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition and Jamboree TV
Survival Kids
The Duskbloods
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 and 4
WWE 2K
Yakuza 0 Definitive Edition

Among these titles, you can see the full list of June 5 Switch 2 launch day games here.

Nintendo GameCube library coming to Switch 2

The Nintendo Switch Online game library will add GameCube games to the Switch 2. On launch day, these games will initially include The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, SoulCalibur 2 and F-Zero GX, with each game getting enhanced graphics. Online multiplayer will also be added to certain titles. Super Mario Sunshine, Super Mario Strikers and Luigi’s Mansion are among the games set to arrive later. At launch, Nintendo will also sell a GameCube controller, which will be wireless and include a C button for GameChat.