Antibody ready to ‘attack and neutralize’ coronavirus  

Lockdown,  life or economy? The whole world is unable to find an answer

A vaccine and an assured medication is awaited to deal with the coronavirus

Besides several trials for the COVID-19 vaccine, a new breakthrough has shown the ray of hope

Israel has isolated a key coronavirus antibody at its primary biological research centre

Defence Minister Naftali Bennett called it a “significant breakthrough” towards a possible treatment for COVID-19 .

The “monoclonal neutralising antibody” “attacks the virus and neutralizes it” inside the virus carrier’s body.

Monoclonal antibodies, as the name suggests, are cloned from a single recovered cell.

The antibody has been developed by the Israel Institute for Biological Research (IIBR)

The monoclonal antibodies are much easier to create and use, as compared to polyclonal antibodies

In typical antibody vaccines, neutralisation occurs when the laboratory-developed antibodies mimic the body’s natural immune

IIBR has completed the development phase of the antibody formula and is now looking to manufacture it.

IIBR Director Shmuel Shapira said, "the antibody formula was being patented, after which an international manufacturer would be sought to mass-produce it."

The IIBR, a secretive research unit working under the office of Israel’s PM, has not released any further information about the vaccine itself.

If effective, the development of an antibody is very promising, and a potential vaccine would soon be out

  Several other countries are already conducting human trials of vaccines for COVID-19.

Though Shapira said mass production is about to begin, it is unclear whether the vaccine has been tested for safety or efficacy on humans.

IIBR is a unit that works to counter biological threats against Israel and has been taking the lead in order to develop a treatment and vaccine for the coronavirus

It has also initiated plasma collection that includes the testing of blood from those who recovered from COVID-19.

Israel was one of the first countries to close its borders and impose restrictions to control the spread of the novel coronavirus.

It has reported 16,246 cases and 235 deaths due to COVID-19.