Israel Isolates Coronavirus Monoclonal Antibody in Potential COVID-19 Antidote

The Israel Institute for Biological Research (IIBR) presented the country’s Defense Minister Naftali Bennet with a “significant breakthrough” in the search for an antidote to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on Monday night.¹

In a statement, Bennet stated that IIBR briefed him on the breakthrough, explaining that they had effectively isolated the antibody that attacks the virus monocularly and neutralizes COVID-19 in carriers' bodies.¹

According to researchers at IIBR, the development phase has been completed. IIBR Director Shmuel Shapira, PhD, explained that they will first register the antibody for a patent, before proceeding to connect with international companies that have the capacity to mass-produce the antibody in commercial quantities.¹

According to Reuters, a monoclonal antibody, like the one developed in Israel, is obtained from a single recovered cell. Currently, there are other facilities researching antibodies, but they have developed treatments from polyclonal antibodies, which consist of multiple cells.² The benefit of a monoclonal antibody is that it potentially has more potent value in yielding a treatment.³

At the end of March, Bennet informed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of the progress in the isolation of the COVID-19 monoclonal antibody at IIBR. Bennet explained that the institute was developing a model for the next phase of animal testing.³

In Netenyahu’s press conference in April, he explained further that the institute had made progress not only toward developing an antibody, but also a vaccine for COVID-19. This separate antibody-based vaccine is currently being tested in trials on rodents.²

Further antibody testing is currently underway elsewhere in the world as well, but questions remain regarding whether antibodies allow for immunity from getting infected or re-infected, as no study has proven either definitively. Furthermore, no study has proven whether the efficacy of antibody protection endures over time.²

Currently, according to the World Health Organization, it is estimated that no more than 2% to 3% of the world population have antibodies that demonstrate whether they were previously infected.²

However, further research into antibodies may help to amass knowledge and information on the appropriate treatment methods available for COVID-19, while companies around the world work as quickly as possible on the development of a vaccine. Some researchers have noted that a vaccine may be the only way to effectively stop the spread of COVID-19.²

REFERENCES

• Zeitun Y, Janco A. Minister Bennett: "A significant breakthrough in finding an antibody to Corona." Ynet; May 5, 2020. ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-5725199,00.html. Accessed May 5, 2020.
• Perper R. Israel’s government research agency says it successfully isolated a key coronavirus antibody, paving the way for a possible breakthrough treatment. Business Insider; May 5, 2020. businessinsider.com/israel-coronavirus-monoclonal-antibody-potential-treatment-2020-5. Accessed May 5, 2020.
• Israel Isolates Coronavirus Antibody in 'Significant Breakthrough': Minister. The New York Times; May 4, 2020. nytimes.com/reuters/2020/05/04/world/middleeast/04reuters-health-coronavirus-israel-treatment.html. Accessed May 5, 2020.