South Korean scientists unveil 38 neutralizing antibodies for coronavirus

Researchers from the Republic of Korea have found 38 antibodies that can neutralize a new type of coronavirus, Report says, citing Yonhap Agency.

According to Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the positive properties of these antibodies can be used to treat those infected.

National Institute of Health and the Pharmaceutical Company Celltrion conducted a research in laboratories. The study isolated antibodies from the blood of patients with positive coronavirus. This method can treat infected people, since they are able to neutralize the virus.

“All the samples obtained, in particular 14 of them, have strong, neutralizing [coronavirus] properties.”

Moreover, the Center will conduct a number of in-depth tests in the near future, including on laboratory animals, to confirm the positive effect of the detected antibodies.

On December 31, 2019, Chinese authorities announced an outbreak of pneumonia in the city of Wuhan. The causative agent of the disease is a new type of coronavirus, officially named as COVID-2019.

On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the outbreak of a new coronavirus a pandemic.