Up until recently, measles vaccination has been so effective that there’s been little incentive to develop treatments for the disease. But as cases hit a 35-year high and vaccination rates continue to decline in the US, biotech companies and academic groups have started working on therapies for those infected. Invivyd, a Connecticut-based company, is developing monoclonal antibodies to provide short-term protection during outbreaks.

Young children are especially susceptible to severe complications from measles, including pneumonia and brain damage. Without specific treatments, doctors rely on supportive care such as preventing dehydration and managing breathing difficulties. In the event of an outbreak, a monoclonal antibody could offer much-needed relief.

At the La Jolla Institute for Immunology, Erica Ollmann Saphire has been studying human antibodies that can block infection by binding to key sites on the measles virus. Her team found that an infusion of these antibodies resulted in a 500-fold lower viral load in rodents. However, manufacturing monoclonal antibodies at scale is a costly and complex process.

The development of these treatments could be crucial for preventing or treating measles, which has the potential to become endemic in the US within the next 25 years. But with high costs and uncertain market demand, pharmaceutical companies may be hesitant to invest. Nonetheless, the benefits of having a tool that can prevent or treat this disease far outweigh the financial challenges.