Posted on 09/14/2020 6:22:55 AM PDT by cba123
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine scientists have isolated the smallest biological molecule to date that completely and specifically neutralizes the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is the cause of COVID-19. This antibody component, which is 10 times smaller than a full-sized antibody, has been used to construct a drug — known as Ab8 — for potential use as a therapeutic and prophylactic against SARS-CoV-2.
The researchers report today (September 14, 2020) in the journal Cell that Ab8 is highly effective in preventing and treating SARS-CoV-2 infection in mice and hamsters. Its tiny size not only increases its potential for diffusion in tissues to better neutralize the virus, but also makes it possible to administer the drug by alternative routes, including inhalation. Importantly, it does not bind to human cells — a good sign that it won’t have negative side-effects in people.
Ab8 was evaluated in conjunction with scientists from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) and University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) at Galveston, as well as the University of British Columbia and University of Saskatchewan.
“Ab8 not only has potential as therapy for COVID-19, but it also could be used to keep people from getting SARS-CoV-2 infections,” said co-author John Mellors, M.D., chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at UPMC and Pitt. “Antibodies of larger size have worked against other infectious diseases and have been well tolerated, giving us hope that it could be an effective treatment for patients with COVID-19 and for protection of those who have never had the infection and are not immune.”
(Excerpt) Read more at scitechdaily.com ...
Brand new drugs take quite a while to develop and test. Expanding use on existing drugs and treatments is a lot faster since their safety is well understood already. I wouldn’t get too excited about seeing this miracle cure in your local Walgreens anytime soon. Not to say it shouldn’t be investigated, but it’s a minimum of years away from availability, so we should focus more attention on improving existing treatments and wrapping up work on the vaccines.
This would be a game changer. One of the problems with covid is that it mutates as its murating. What you develope today might not work 24 hours from now.
Innerspace. 1987, Dennis Quaid, Meg Ryan. Good movie.
I expect the FDA to bury this. Too much money to be made from the vaccines. The FDA is the most corrupt agency in government.
bkmk
The Dancing Hamsters of.... the early 2000s?
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