For the first time ever, a human body was instructed to make lab-designed antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 - by itself - from synthetic DNA.
One shot.
No virus.
Protection lasting over a year.🧵
One shot.
No virus.
Protection lasting over a year.🧵
https://twitter.com/atranscendedman/status/1980647539696398642
A new Nature Medicine study tested something called DNA-encoded monoclonal antibodies (DMAbs).
Instead of injecting ready made antibodies, scientists injected synthetic DNA that tells your cells how to make them.
Your muscle becomes a mini factory for antibodies.
Instead of injecting ready made antibodies, scientists injected synthetic DNA that tells your cells how to make them.
Your muscle becomes a mini factory for antibodies.
The DNA carried blueprints for tixagevimab and cilgavimab - the antibodies used in Evusheld.
It was delivered intramuscularly, with short electric pulses (electroporation) that help DNA enter cells.
It was delivered intramuscularly, with short electric pulses (electroporation) that help DNA enter cells.
The results were remarkable.
Every participant developed measurable antibodies
Those antibodies neutralized multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants (Wuhan, Delta, Omicron BA.5)
Levels stayed detectable for 72 weeks (that’s 1.5 years!)
No serious adverse events
Every participant developed measurable antibodies
Those antibodies neutralized multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants (Wuhan, Delta, Omicron BA.5)
Levels stayed detectable for 72 weeks (that’s 1.5 years!)
No serious adverse events
Crucially, no participant developed anti-drug antibodies (ADA) - immune reactions that often sabotage gene-based or protein therapies.
That means the DNA platform triggered expression, not inflammation.
That means the DNA platform triggered expression, not inflammation.
This is a proof of concept that humans can safely express foreign genes from DNA
without integrating them into our genome and without immune rejection.
It’s controlled gene expression, virus-free and clean.
without integrating them into our genome and without immune rejection.
It’s controlled gene expression, virus-free and clean.
Why this matters
cheaper and more stable than traditional monoclonal antibodies
no cold chain needed
rapidly adaptable to new viral variants
potentially usable for autoimmune or cancer therapies
cheaper and more stable than traditional monoclonal antibodies
no cold chain needed
rapidly adaptable to new viral variants
potentially usable for autoimmune or cancer therapies
It’s a small phase 1 trial (44 healthy volunteers) and doesn’t prove real world protection yet.
But it’s the first clinical proof that DNA-coded antibodies can work in humans.
A short flight - but like the Wright brothers, it changes everything.
But it’s the first clinical proof that DNA-coded antibodies can work in humans.
A short flight - but like the Wright brothers, it changes everything.
Immunologically, this is a new form of passive immunity
instead of teaching your body to make antibodies (as vaccines do),
you simply give it the genetic instructions.
And those instructions can last a year or more.
instead of teaching your body to make antibodies (as vaccines do),
you simply give it the genetic instructions.
And those instructions can last a year or more.
If this platform expands, it could redefine how we produce biologics.
No massive bioreactors. No frozen proteins.
Just a few milligrams of DNA and one injection.
No massive bioreactors. No frozen proteins.
Just a few milligrams of DNA and one injection.
Tebas et al., Nature Medicine (2025). Safety and pharmacokinetics of SARS-CoV-2 DNA-encoded monoclonal antibodies in healthy adults. nature.com/articles/s4159…
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