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September 23,2021

Anna Murray 

On September 22, the journal Nature Communication published an article titled "A potent SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing nanobody shows therapeutic efficacy in the Syrian golden hamster model of COVID-19." Nanobodies, a smaller, simpler form of antibody produced by llamas and camels, have been discovered by scientists at the Rosalind Franklin Institute in the United Kingdom to effectively target the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19.

According to research, tiny antibodies produced by llamas could provide a new coronavirus treatment in the form of a nasal spray. The nanobodies bind tightly to the virus, neutralizing it in the lab, and may be a less expensive and easier alternative to human antibodies recovered from Covid-19 patients.

Short chains of the molecules, which can be produced in large quantities in the laboratory, significantly reduced signs of COVID-19 when given to infected animal models, according to the study. Because they are easier to produce than human antibodies and do not require cold storage, nanobodies, if successful and approved, could provide an important treatment around the world.