The important point to remember is that monoclonal antibodies are just a single type (clones of a single antibody) that stick to a particular antigen (virus, bacteria, or for leronliamb, cell transmembrane receptor).

MAbs are essentially a sticker that is specific for a given target. The impact of the mAb depends on the function of the target and the response the mAb induces in the immune system when it is bound as an antibody-antigen complex.

Typically mAbs indices phagocytosis (gobbling up if free floating virions) or lysis (destruction if virally infected cells). They act as a label alerting the immune system, “attack this thing I’ve discovered and marked”.

Leronlimab instead of activating an immune response, covers the CCR5 receptor so it’s not able to be activated. CCR5 is still there, but the chemokines release by damaged epithelial cells do not induce further immune hyperactivation. This interrupts the vicious circle and allows the adaptive immune system to get in its feet (NK cells, T and B lymphocytes) and address the infection in a more controlled and effective manner.