Monoclonal antibodies against rabies: current uses in prophylaxis and in therapy

Rabies is a severe viral infection that causes an acute encephalomyelitis, which presents a case fatality of nearly 100% after the manifestation of neurological clinical signs. Rabies can be efficiently prevented with post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), composed of vaccines and anti-rabies immunoglobulins (RIGs); however, no treatment exists for symptomatic rabies. The PEP protocol faces access and implementation obstacles in resource-limited settings, which could be partially overcome by substituting RIGs for monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). mAbs offer lower production costs, consistent supply availability, long-term storage/stability, and an improved safety profile. Here we summarize the key features of the different available mAbs against rabies, focusing on their application in PEP and highlighting their potential in a novel therapeutic approach.

Automated summary

Rabies is a severe viral infection with no effective treatment currently available. Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is an effective method to prevent rabies, but implementation in resource-limited areas can be challenging. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) offer a potential alternative to anti-rabies immunoglobulins (RIGs) in PEP and therapy, with lower costs and improved stability.