This discovery, published in the journal Nature Microbiology, opens new avenues for preventive and therapeutic applications. In monkeys, the new antibody showed therapeutic efficacy and complete protection when used prophylactically, Chuv said in a statement.
These results offer new perspectives for protecting people at risk, particularly people with immunodeficiency. The antibody, designated P2G3, was isolated from an infected donor and vaccinated twice. It showed very strong neutralizing activity against all Corona variants of concern, including Omicron.
By binding to a specific region of the spike protein, the antibody can prevent the virus from binding to the receptor present on target cells affected by the infection. This binding also prevents the antibody – unlike all previously approved antibodies – from mutating into all variants.
This research was carried out before the appearance of the omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5. However, recent data indicate that the antibody retains its neutralizing activity, according to the release. Clinical studies starting in August 2022 should confirm this.