Rabies-Monoclonal Antibody - A Perspective

Rabies is an acute viral zoonotic disease that affects the central nervous system (CNS) of all warm-blooded animals, including mammals. Research studies and experience from across the world have demonstrated that appropriate administration of a combination of (a) local wound treatment, (b) anti-rabies vaccination and (c) passive immunization have proved to be quite effective in preventing the occurrence of rabies. As far as passive immunization is concerned, polyclonal plasma-derived rabies immunoglobulins (RIG) pose a number of limitations with scarce supply, high cost, etc. amongst many others. On the contrary Rabies Monoclonal Antibodies (R-mAb) are much cheaper, permit longer-term storage, etc. and hence could offer a more standardized, accessible, affordable and equally efficacious and safer alternative to RIG. Accordingly, this article has tried to throw light on the transition from RIG to monoclonal antibody-based Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) which has been recommended by the WHO strongly. The advantages, limitations and future scope of R-mAb have been discussed at length to give a comprehensive idea about this novel invention in the field of medicine.