• Published on: May 31, 2021
  • 1 minute read
  • By: Dr Rajan Choudhary

REGN-COV2 – Artificial "antibody Cocktail" 

  • WhatsApp share link icon
  • copy & share link icon
  • twitter share link icon
  • facebook share link icon

REGN-COV2 – Artificial "antibody cocktail" 

Recently a new drug was approved for use in COVID patients in India. Known as REGN-COV2, this new therapy is based on monoclonal antibodies targeting the SARS-CoV-2 virus responsible for COVID. So how does it work? And is there any evidence behind the treatment?

Monoclonal antibodies are made from components of the human immune system. When the human body recognizes a bacteria or virus in the body, the immune system recognizes and processes proteins on the surface of that bacteria or virus. This is presented to the adaptive immune system, and antibodies have produced that lock onto these surface proteins, neutralizing their function and also tagging them for destruction by other white blood cells.

If we identify antibodies capable of efficiently tagging and neutralizing a certain virus, we can identify the cell capable of producing that antibody, clone it and produce it in vast quantities. The antibodies produced from this cloned cell line will be able to target the virus at the same efficiency and have the same ability to neutralize the virus. Just like with vaccines, there is a risk of mutations developing, resulting in changes in the surface protein that reduce binding and neutralizing effects of the antibodies, allowing them to escape and continue to cause disease

REGN-COV2 uses two neutralizing antibodies (Casirivimab/imdevimab), in an effort to minimize the ability of a mutant virus to develop resistance against the antibody cocktail, as the virus would need to develop mutations canceling both antibodies out at once. These antibodies neutralize the receptor-binding domain of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, preventing viral entry through ACE2 receptors.

In a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (one of the most prestigious journals in the medical field) data from 275 patients showed a drastic reduction in viral load in patients treated with REGN-COV2. This is clinically significant as hospitalized patients with severe symptoms have higher viral counts than non-hospitalized or asymptomatic patients, suggesting the hypoxaemic, shortness of breath symptoms are related to the viral count and resulting exaggerated immune response.

Based off this result the European Medicines Agency approved the use of REGN-COV2 antibody cocktail in patients who do not require supplemental oxygen but are at high risk of progressing to severe COVID-19.

FDA regulations currently recommend it for patients who are COVID positive with risk factors that may result in their hospitalization but do not recommend it for patients who are already hospitalized, requiring O2 therapy because of COVID or need chronic O2 therapy.

Those that fall into the high-risk categories include patients with a high BMI (over 35), diabetes, on immunosuppressive treatment or with an immunosuppressive disease, over 65 years of age or those with chronic diseases such as renal disease, cardiovascular disease, COPD, or other developmental disorders.

Read Blog
Remote Cardiac Monitoring India: Transforming Heart Health Through Continuous Digital Tracking

Remote Cardiac Monitoring India: Transforming Heart Health Through Continuous Digital Tracking

Heart disease remains one of the leading causes of death in India. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), cardiovascular diseases account for nearly 28% of total deaths in the country. With rising stress levels, sedentary lifestyles, air pollution exposure, diabetes, hypertension, and delayed diagnosis, the need for better cardiac monitoring has grown significantly. Remote cardiac monitoring India is emerging as a powerful solution to monitor heart health in real time and detect abnormalities before they turn into emergencies.

Remote cardiac monitoring involves wearable or portable ECG devices that track heart signals continuously or at regular intervals. These devices transmit data securely to cardiologists or AI-based systems, enabling early detection of arrhythmias, rhythm abnormalities, ischemic patterns, and fluctuations in heart rate variability (HRV). SecondMedic brings cutting-edge remote monitoring options that help patients manage heart-related risks effectively, anytime and anywhere.

Why Remote Cardiac Monitoring Is Becoming Essential in India

India has a disproportionately high cardiac burden. Reports by WHO show that Indians suffer heart attacks at a younger age compared to global averages. Additionally, more than 50% of cardiac patients in India do not recognize early warning signs and reach hospitals late.

Remote cardiac monitoring helps solve these challenges by offering:

  • Early arrhythmia detection
     

  • Timely identification of heart stress
     

  • Post-surgery cardiac recovery supervision
     

  • Reduced hospital dependency
     

  • Continuous heart rhythm tracking
     

  • Better outcomes for chronic heart patients
     

With easy access to digital ECG devices, monitoring is no longer limited to hospitals.

How Remote Cardiac Monitoring Works

Remote cardiac monitoring uses smart ECG patches, chest straps, handheld ECG devices, and even AI-driven wearables. These devices record heart electrical activity or rhythm patterns and transmit the data to:

  • Cardiologists
     

  • Digital dashboards
     

  • AI algorithms
     

  • Care teams
     

The real-time nature of the data allows immediate response in case of abnormalities.

Core parameters captured include:

  • ECG waveform
     

  • Heart rate variability (HRV)
     

  • Arrhythmias (AFib, SVT, PVCs)
     

  • Tachycardia or bradycardia
     

  • QT interval abnormalities
     

  • Stress-related heart rhythm changes
     

SecondMedic ensures that the captured data is clinically relevant and accessible to both patients and doctors.

Patients Who Benefit Most from Remote Cardiac Monitoring

1. Post-Cardiac Surgery Patients

After angioplasty, bypass surgery, pacemaker implantation, or stent placement, patients require strict monitoring for weeks or months. Remote devices track recovery trends.

2. Individuals With Arrhythmia

Conditions like atrial fibrillation (AFib) require continuous monitoring, as episodes may come and go unpredictably.

3. Patients With Heart Failure

Monitoring helps evaluate worsening symptoms or cardiac stress.

4. High-Risk Individuals

Patients with diabetes, hypertension, obesity, or family history of heart disease benefit from early detection.

5. Elderly and Homebound Patients

Remote monitoring eliminates frequent hospital visits for routine ECG checks.

6. People Experiencing Palpitations

Intermittent symptoms can be captured and analyzed with wearable monitors.

Key Advantages of Remote Cardiac Monitoring

Early Detection Saves Lives

Abnormal rhythms such as atrial fibrillation can go unnoticed and lead to stroke. Remote monitoring detects these in real time.

Avoids Emergency Situations

AI alerts allow doctors to intervene early before symptoms worsen.

Better Long-Term Cardiac Care

Continuous data provides better insights than occasional clinic-based ECGs.

High Accuracy

Medical-grade ECG wearables match hospital-level precision for diagnosis.

Patient Convenience

Patients can monitor their heart health from home, office, or while traveling.

Improved Doctor Decisions

Trend-based cardiac data supports more accurate treatment planning.

Role of AI in Remote Cardiac Monitoring

AI and machine learning models analyze patterns collected from ECG devices.

AI enhances care by:

  • Identifying subtle abnormalities
     

  • Predicting arrhythmia events
     

  • Detecting ischemic trends early
     

  • Classifying ECG signal types
     

  • Reducing manual interpretation burden
     

SecondMedic integrates AI-assisted analysis to strengthen cardiac risk evaluation.

Post-Surgery and Rehabilitation Monitoring

Cardiac rehabilitation is crucial after major procedures. Remote monitoring provides:

  • Heart rate control
     

  • Blood pressure trend tracking
     

  • Rhythm abnormality detection
     

  • Activity monitoring
     

  • Medication adherence support
     

This reduces readmission rates and supports safer recovery.

Remote Cardiac Monitoring in Rural India

Many small towns lack cardiology specialists or advanced ECG equipment. Remote monitoring bridges this gap by:

  • Connecting patients to cardiologists virtually
     

  • Providing ECG analysis without hospital visits
     

  • Reducing delay in diagnosis
     

  • Supporting long-term monitoring at home
     

SecondMedic helps democratize heart care access across India.

Challenges and Solutions

Device Accuracy Variability

Solution: Use medical-grade, certified ECG wearables.

Digital Literacy Issues

Solution: Simple interfaces, guided onboarding, multilingual instructions.

Data Security

Solution: End-to-end encrypted data under DPDP Act compliance.

Connectivity Challenges

Solution: Devices with offline sync capabilities.

Future of Remote Cardiac Monitoring in India

The next decade will bring significant advancements:

  • Patch-based continuous ECG devices
     

  • AI-driven early warning scores
     

  • Smart pacemaker data integration
     

  • Multi-day continuous ECG monitoring
     

  • Predictive arrhythmia detection algorithms
     

  • Tele-ICU support for remote patients
     

SecondMedic is actively working to integrate next-generation cardiac monitoring tools into its platform.

Conclusion

Remote cardiac monitoring India is transforming heart care by enabling real-time ECG tracking, early abnormality detection, and continuous cardiologist oversight. This digital-first approach empowers high-risk patients, improves outcomes, and ensures safer long-term cardiac management. SecondMedic’s integrated digital heart monitoring solutions allow patients across India to access expert cardiac care anytime.

To explore remote cardiac monitoring solutions, visit www.secondmedic.com

 

References

  • ICMR - Cardiovascular disease burden
     

  • WHO - Early cardiac risk detection
     

  • NITI Aayog - Digital health innovation in India
     

  • ABDM - Unified digital health mission
     

  • Statista - Wearable and ECG device adoption India
     

  • SecondMedic cardiac care insights

See all

Live Doctor consultation
Live Doctor Chat

Download Our App & Get Consultation from anywhere.

App Download
call icon for mobile number calling and whatsapp at secondmedic