The news that our first anti COVID-19 drug was approved for sale was inspiring. Here comes the special medicine. Who can use it? How to use it? Can it be used for prevention? Can it replace the vaccine? In response to public concerns, Zhang Linqi, Professor of medicine at Tsinghua University, director of the global health and infectious disease research center and director of the AIDS comprehensive research center, responded. Special medicine, where is the special medicine Special medicine, where is the special medicine? What is the blocking effect of COVID-19? Zhang Linqi said: "from the strict definition of medicine, special effects refer to its specificity and the excellent results achieved on the basis of specificity. Special effects are basically drugs with strong targeting and accuracy." Zhang Linqi introduced that from the new crown neutralizing antibody drug, it can target and accurately identify the surface protein of the virus, so that the virus can not enter the cell. "Our drug is a combination of two antibodies, that is, two drugs are used at the same time and play an effect. In terms of virus identification, we can accurately identify two different targets, increase the broad spectrum of anti-virus, and achieve the effect that one plus one is greater than two." Zhang Linqi said. Does the specific drug have preventive effect Can specific drugs be used as prevention? The reporter found that although most of the new crown neutralizing antibodies are regarded as therapeutic drugs from a global perspective, previously in the United States, Junshi biological neutralizing antibody therapy js016 and ly-cov555 developed by Eli Lilly pharmaceutical company of the United States / abcellera company of Canada formed a combined therapy. After being authorized for emergency use, it was also approved for post exposure prevention. Zhang Linqi introduced: "This approval for the above drugs does not include indications for prevention, but we have made some modifications and antibodies to the combined antibody therapy. The results show that it can survive for 9 to 12 months in vitro and in vivo, and the neutralization ability of the virus is more than 400 times the effective concentration 9 months after injection. Therefore, this condition enables us not only to treat, but also to It will also play a greater role in prevention. " "However, if a person has many basic diseases or immune diseases that are not suitable for vaccination, antibody vaccination is very effective. Therefore, drugs as prevention is a very promising direction, and we will continue to strengthen research in this regard." Zhang Linqi said. What is the effect of specific drugs on mutant strains Recently, COVID-19 mutation has caused widespread concern and concern. What is the effect of specific drugs on mutants? "Virus mutation is inevitable. We are facing great challenges in the whole process of drug development and vaccine development." Zhang Linqi introduced that in the process of promoting global multicenter clinical trials, especially from May to August this year, delta was the main epidemic strain in the country The blinded phase III clinical trial showed the effectiveness of reducing the death and hospitalization rate by 80%. At the same time, it also proved that it maintained good activity against these mutants, and the broad spectrum of the drug was also demonstrated in the antiviral experiment in vitro. "Now an important task for us is to understand the law of virus variation and the ability of our antibodies to inhibit the virus." He further revealed, "at present, our laboratory has many antibody 'spare tires', which shows that we have a very strong neutralization ability for all viruses." With specific drugs, do you still use vaccines Here comes the special medicine. Do you still need a vaccine? To solve this problem, Zhang Linqi said: "for any disease, prevention is the first important. Vaccines and therapeutic drugs with the main purpose of prevention are very complementary. Once they are infected, or the protective effect of vaccines is not good, they can be treated with drugs to block the further deterioration of the disease." "Before our drugs and vaccines do not meet the particularly ideal expectations, public health measures are also crucial, including wearing masks and maintaining social distance." Zhang Linqi said. (outlook new era)