Here We Go Again: Pandemic Concerns Lead to New Preventative Treatment Against Bird Flu

By Darcy Harris | ComSciCon-Chicago 2025

The thought of another pandemic is enough to make anyone run into the store to buy the entire supply of toilet paper. However, thanks to early research, we might not have to return to that dark reality. In the last few years, a new virus has made headlines. A ‘bird flu’ virus, H5N1, has jumped from infecting birds to now infecting cows, goats, and even humans.¹ H5N1 infection leads to severe disease in humans, such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). As of January 26^th, 2026, there are 71 cases in the U.S. and two deaths. Although this flu strain is concerning, there is currently no known person-to-person spread and the public health risk is low.² Fresh from the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers and the public alike are keen to find potential treatments and prophylactics, which are preventative treatments, to avoid a more serious public health risk. If the virus is able to jump from person to person, it can spread very fast through droplets in the air. This can lead to a large number of people becoming infected, which can lead to severe illness and death.

Researchers at the National Institutes of Health, University of Pittsburgh, University of Georgia, and AstraZeneca have been making progress on lessening the public health risk of bird flu. In a recent study published in Science, the researchers found that using a pre-exposure antibody can help prevent severe disease in macaques, a monkey model.³ Antibodies are small components of the body that help prevent and fight infection from bacteria and viruses. “The results are promising for pre-exposure prophylaxis with this broadly neutralizing anti-stem antibody against H5N1,” said Dr. Michael Diamond, a physician-scientist of virology and immunology at Washington University in St. Louis who was not involved in this study. Due to the relatively low numbers of H5N1 infection in humans historically, previous treatments have been found from observational studies and there is no vaccine.¹ 

The study utilized a previously identified broadly neutralizing antibody MEDI8852 that targets the stem of the viral protein hemagglutinin. Macaques received either MEDI8852 or a control antibody and were exposed to airborne H5N1 three days later. Across the 15 day experiment, there was increased survival among the treated macaques compared to the untreated macaques. The researchers also kept track of biological changes, respiratory functions, and pathogenic responses of the macaques to H5N1. Their results suggested that MEDI8852 provides protection against ARDS and pneumonia.

“If things go as planned in clinical trials, such a treatment modality could be used in high-risk individuals who are at risk for H5N1 exposure.”

-Dr. Michael Diamond

While the results are promising, there were notable issues with the animal model. “You need to have a control group of animals that get an irrelevant antibody. Those monkeys got quite sick and had to be euthanized, humanely, for ethical reasons,” said Dr. Simon Barratt-Boyes, an infectious disease professor at the University of Pittsburgh who worked on this study. While macaques are advantageous due to their similarities to humans, the premature euthanasia of the control group makes it difficult to ensure the rigor of the study.

The prophylactic exposure in macaques was only the beginning. According to Dr. Diamond, “If things go as planned in clinical trials, such a treatment modality could be used in high-risk individuals who are at risk for H5N1 exposure. However, more work would need to be done to see if this antibody could function effectively after virus infection occurs.” While the antibody showed promise as a prophylactic, it would also need to be studied more to determine if it could be administered after infection to prevent severe disease. In addition to the development of MEDI8852 as a prophylactic, future work also includes combination therapy with another antibody. “We’ve been working with a new antibody that’s also been published, FNI9, that targets neuraminidase,” said Barratt-Boyes. Neuraminidase is a viral enzyme that aids in viral emergence from the cell. The researchers hope that the two antibodies together will have a stronger effect against the virus. This will also allow for a lower dose of each antibody to be used, which leads to a cheaper treatment as less antibody needs to be used.

The progress of potential prophylactic measures against H5N1 is promising and reassuring. Preliminary data shows the efficacy of pre-exposure antibodies, which can be administered to high-risk individuals to prevent severe disease. The research being done, not only from this study, is instrumental in helping combat H5N1. With progress on treatments and prophylactics, scientists can prevent H5N1 from becoming another pandemic. This will ensure that we will never have to hug our loved ones through a plastic barrier again.

References

1. Galli M, Giacomelli A, Lai A, Zehender G. H5N1 influenza A virus: lessons from past outbreaks and emerging threats. Infez Med. 2025;33(1):76-89. doi:10.53854/liim-3301-7

2. CDC. H5 Bird Flu: Current Situation. Avian Influenza (Bird Flu). Published March 18, 2025. Accessed March 20, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/index.html

3. Kanekiyo M, Gillespie RA, Cooper K, et al. Pre-exposure antibody prophylaxis protects macaques from severe influenza. Science. 2025;387(6733):534-541. doi:10.1126/science.ado6481

About the Author

Darcy Harris is a Ph.D. candidate in Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology at Washington University in St. Louis. Her research is on vaccine development, specifically for Alzheimer’s Disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. Darcy is interested in science policy surrounding vaccine and drug approval and distribution to the general public. Outside of the lab, she has participated in the ComSciCon Chicago 2025 chapter workshop. In her free time, she enjoys reading, baking, and chilling with her cat.