- The Israeli government’s research institute says it has successfully isolated a key coronavirus antibody – a discovery that could pave the way for a possible treatment for the novel coronavirus.
- Israeli Defence Minister Naftali Bennet said in a Monday statement that the Israel Institute for Biological Research briefed him on the “significant breakthrough” when he visited its facilities earlier that day.
- According to the statement, the institute isolated a “monoclonal neutralising antibody” that can “neutralise [disease] inside carriers’ bodies.”
- However, there has been no definitive study showing that having antibodies means people are immune to getting the coronavirus.
The Israeli government’s research institute has isolated a key coronavirus antibody that could lead to a possible coronavirus treatment, the country’s defence minister said Monday.
In a joint statement with the Israel Institute for Biological Research, published Monday night, Naftali Bennet said the agency briefed him with its “significant breakthrough” when he visited the facilities on Monday.
According to the statement, the institute has isolated a “monoclonal” antibody that can “neutralise [disease] inside carriers’ bodies.”
Antibodies are proteins created by the body’s immune system to fight invading threats.
Professor Shmuel Shapiro, the institute’s director, said the antibody is being patented, and the next phase of research includes contacting international manufacturers to mass-produce the formula for commercial use.
Read the article by Rosie Perper in Business Insider Australia.