New Study Confirms Safety and Effectiveness of Monoclonal Antibody Therapy in Rabies Prevention

Rabies remains one of the deadliest infectious diseases worldwide, but recent advances in treatment have shown promise in preventing this fatal illness after animal bites. A comprehensive post-licensure clinical study published in The Lancet highlights the safety and efficacy of Rabishield, a monoclonal antibody therapy developed by UMass Chan Medical School in collaboration with the Serum Institute of India. This innovative treatment offers a compelling alternative to traditional rabies post-exposure prophylaxis options.

Rabishield, launched globally in 2017, especially aimed to bridge gaps in rabies prevention, notably in countries like India where the disease causes approximately 20,000 deaths annually. In the study involving over 4,000 high-risk patients in India, participants received Rabishield combined with rabies vaccines or the conventional equine rabies immunoglobulin plus vaccine. Both groups developed strong immune responses, but Rabishield was better tolerated, with fewer significant side effects, and crucially, no cases of rabies were reported during a one-year follow-up.

This research underscores Rabishield's vital role in expanding access to life-saving rabies treatment, particularly in regions where rabies remains a significant public health challenge. The findings contribute to global efforts to reduce rabies mortality and demonstrate the potential of monoclonal antibody therapies in infectious disease management.

For more details, see the full study: Post-exposure prophylaxis regimen of rabies monoclonal antibody and vaccine in category 3 potential exposure patients in The Lancet, 2025. Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-highlights-monoclonal-antibody-therapy-safe.html