Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42345852›Full record

ReviewAntibodies (Basel, Switzerland)2026

The Shifting Paradigm of Monoclonal Antibodies in COVID-19 Management: From Early Triumphs to Viral Resistance and Future Perspectives.

Francesco Ferrara, Flavia De Berardinis, Manlio Scognamiglio, Andrea Zovi

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Antibodies (Basel, Switzerland), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Francesco FerraraPharmaceutical Department, ASL Napoli 3 Sud, 80035 Naples, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-9298-6783
Flavia De BerardinisDepartment of Mental Health, ASL Roma 3, 00121 Rome, Italy.
Manlio ScognamiglioPharmaceutical Department, ASL Salerno, 84025 Salerno, Italy.
Andrea ZoviSchool of Pharmacy, University of Camerino (Macerata), 62032 Macerata, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-6528-2171

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMonoclonal antibodies (mAbs) initially played a major role in outpatient COVID-19 management by providing rapid passive immunity and reducing progression to severe disease. However, continuous SARS-CoV-2 evolution progressively compromised the effectiveness of several anti-spike products. This narrative review summarizes the trajectory of COVID-19 mAbs across three phases: early clinical efficacy, loss of efficacy due to immune escape, and future directions.

methodsWe conducted a narrative review focusing on mechanisms of action, pivotal clinical trials, and real-world effectiveness of neutralizing anti-spike mAbs and host-directed immunomodulatory mAbs. Emphasis was placed on the impact of variants-especially Omicron-on susceptibility and clinical use, as well as on emerging next-generation platforms.

resultsFirst-generation neutralizing mAbs substantially reduced the hospitalization rates during the Alpha and Delta waves, while immunomodulatory mAbs became standard options for the hyperinflammatory phase in hospitalized patients. With the emergence of Omicron and its sub-lineages, extensive immune escape led to marked reductions in neutralization for many earlier anti-spike agents and consequent restrictions in use. Later-generation approaches targeting more conserved epitopes provided temporary solutions but were also challenged by ongoing antigenic drift. Host-directed immunomodulators retained clinical relevance because their mechanism is independent of viral spike mutations.

conclusionsThe clinical role of monoclonal antibodies in COVID-19 has been dynamic and increasingly constrained by viral evolution. Future strategies should prioritize broadly neutralizing antibodies targeting conserved epitopes, innovative delivery platforms, and integration with real-time surveillance to preserve clinical utility in the endemic phase and improve preparedness for future outbreaks.

Indexed as

antimicrobial stewardshipCOVID-19hospital pharmacyimmune escapemonoclonal antibodiesOmicronSARS-CoV-2spike proteintocilizumab

Identifiers

PMID42345852
PMCPMC13295941

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.