While a breakthrough vaccine to prevent COVID-19 could take a couple of years in the making. Researchers in Israel and the Netherlands are trying to
block the spread of the disease using antibodies. Antibodies are proteins produced by the immune system as a response to invading microbes and viruses.
Israel Institute for Biological Research (IIBR) claims to have isolated a key antibody that prevents COVID-19 infections. The country’s defence minister, Naftali Bennett, claimed this was a “significant breakthrough” to stop the disease. IIBR claims its antibody attacks and neutralises the virus
“inside the virus carrier.” This new antibody is stated to be monoclonal or a lab-produced antibody that mimic the ones made by the immune system.
It is unclear if this antibody has been tested on humans IIBR says its development is complete, awaiting manufacture. Meanwhile, scientists at Utrecht University, Erasmus Medical Center and biopharmaceutical company Harbour BioMed claimed to have successfully stopped COVID-19 infections
at a lab setting, using monoclonal antibodies.
Some experts take these as key breakthroughs against COVID-19.
But they are cautious as the real world could differ much from lab settings.
