Breakthrough antibody treatment may outsmart COVID-19 mutations

The COVID-19 virus has evolved rapidly, rendering many antibody treatments ineffective. However, Stanford University researchers have devised a novel approach that could lead to longer-lasting therapies.

Their method uses a dual-antibody system—one anchoring to a stable part of the virus and another blocking infection. This combination neutralized all known variants, from the original strain to omicron, in lab tests. The findings, published in Science Translational Medicine, suggest a path toward more resilient COVID-19 treatments.

Led by Professor Christopher O. Barnes and doctoral candidate Adonis Rubio, the team studied antibodies from recovered patients. They identified one that binds to the Spike N-terminal domain (NTD), a relatively stable viral region. This anchor enables a second antibody to attach to the receptor-binding domain (RBD), preventing the virus from entering human cells.

Named CoV2-biRN, these bispecific antibodies showed strong neutralization across variants and reduced viral loads in infected mice. While clinical trials are needed before human use, the approach holds promise for tackling COVID-19 and other coronaviruses.

The researchers now aim to develop antibodies effective against a broader range of viruses, including influenza, MERS, and HIV. Barnes emphasized the importance of keeping treatments adaptable: “As viruses evolve to persist, our antibodies must evolve to counter them.”

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