COVID-19: Chinese researchers discover ‘godsend’ antibody against omicron

Chinese researchers have claimed to have discovered a synthetic antibody that could fight the novel coronavirus, or the SARS-CoV-2 virus, responsible for COVID-19.

In the study, which is yet to be peer-reviewed, scientists at Fudan University in Shanghai, found that the antibody could combat even the highly contagious omicron variant of the virus, believed to be behind the ongoing COVID waves across the world.

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The discovery was made while the researchers were investigating another disease. Professor Huang Jinghe of the university, the lead scientist, called the antibody ‘a godsend’ — adding that this would put humans ‘a step ahead in the race’ against the infection. 

Speaking to South China Morning Post, she shared that she ‘accidentally’ synthesized the antibody out of two natural antibodies which are developed by the immune cells in the human body. While these could not have fought omicron individually, their combination are able to neutralize the virus in a ‘Street Fighter’ like fashion. 

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The study researchers inform that this antibody cocktail is effective against other versions of the virus as well, including the one behind the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). It is also expected to work against different variants in the future. 

The findings were published in a paper titled “Combating the Sars-CoV-2 Omicron variant with non-Omicron neutralising antibodies” on the Biorxiv preprint website on Monday. 

Also Read: Omicron is less severe as it spares the lungs, studies suggest

Importantly, the discovery comes in the backdrop of the US Food and Drug Administration revoking and bringing down the production of older monoclonal antibody medicines that have proven ineffective against omicron.