MassBiologics researchers cite potential coronavirus vaccine
Photo | Google
The MassBiologics facility in Boston
Researchers at MassBiologics, an arm of Worcester's UMass Medical School, have published a study suggesting antibodies may provide immunity in the respiratory system against coronavirus.
Those findings, announced Friday, give another potential boost to scientific advances aiming to stop a pandemic that has killed nearly 180,000 in the United States and more than 820,000 worldwide. The antibodies, researchers said, blocks a receptor that could prevent or limit infection from the virus.
MassBiologics, whose lab is based in Boston, has found success treating a similar virus before. During the SARS outbreak, the lab developed an antibody effective in fighting that respiratory syndrome, which is similar to today's coronavirus. The lab was ready to initiate a clinical trial then, but the virus fizzled without causing nearly the amount of cases or deaths as coronavirus today.
MassBiologics saved its research material from then, however, and researchers realized their earlier work may help with the new pandemic, according to the medical school. Though the earlier antibody was not shown to be particularly effective with the new coronavirus, researchers developed a similar antibody they've found neutralizes the coronavirus by blocking receptors otherwise helping the virus spread.
WBJ Web Partners
Most Recent
Most Recent
0 Comments