2 COVID-19 Antibody Stocks to Buy Right Now

As the world holds its breath in wait for a COVID-19 vaccine, other potential anti-viral treatment haven't garnered the same amount of press. But they should be: It will likely take multiple types and combinations of therapeutic approaches in order to put a stop to the pandemic. Luckily, there are over 300 coronavirus treatment candidates currently in various stages of preclinical and clinical studies. Many of these are antibody-based therapies.

The immune system produces antibodies to help a person resist a particular illness. Antibodies, a type of blood protein, are distinctive to the virus they are associated with. Once someone contracts an illness, the antibodies generated by their immune system can help the person convalesce and avoid future infection. If successful antibody therapeutics could be developed to treat and prevent SARS-CoV-2 infections, they could be game-changers in the fight against the disease that's caused worldwide economic shutdowns and killed almost 200,000 people in the U.S. alone. One significant question, however, is exactly how long COVID-19 antibodies can remain in the body and what kind of immunity they provide. It's also unclear what impacts the longevity and strength of the antibodies, such as a person's age and the severity of their prior COVID-19 illness.

GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK) and Regeneron (NASDAQ: REGN) are two companies leading the way in developing prospective antibody treatments for COVID-19. These large-cap stocks also boast robust balance sheets and strong drug portfolios, making both companies solid investments, even if their antibody treatment candidates don't make it to market.

Source Fool.com