HEK293T are used to test many medicines you have personally benefited from. But HEK293T were not used to produce REGEN-COV-2.
"These are very commonly used cells in research, and most published research involves use of 293s. In our case, these 293T cells were transfected and used in production of a ‘pseudoparticle’ that mimics the virus’ Spike protein and allowed us to test neutralization ability of our antibodies against the virus."
...The stem cells most commonly used at Regeneron are mouse embryonic stem cells and human blood stem cells. Currently, there are limited research efforts employing human-induced pluripotent stem cell lines derived from adult human cells and human embryonic stem cells that are approved for research use by the National Institutes of Health and created solely through in vitro fertilization.
Research using such stem cells allows Regeneron to model complex diseases, test new drug candidates and can help unlock new scientific insights that ultimately could lead to the discovery of new treatments for people with serious diseases. All of Regeneron’s research conducted on stem cells adheres to federal and state laws and regulations. Regeneron demands from its collaborators and vendors that all human stem cell lines used in its research are from properly consented individuals.
As a company and as individuals, we share a commitment to operating thoughtfully and ethically, particularly while navigating these complex issues specific to the biopharmaceutical industry. We are constantly evaluating our research practices to ensure they abide by the highest standards of scientific and bioethical integrity. We strive to stay on the forefront of responsible scientific innovation to continue making a difference in patients’ lives.
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How do you 'properly consent' to, and, 'ethically' obtain human embryo cells?
Asking for the unborn.