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New Delhi: Israeli scientists have made “significant progress” in the development of antibodies against the coronavirus by isolating a key COVID-19 antibody, Israeli Defense Minister Naftali Bennett said in Jerusalem on Monday (May 5). The “monoclonal neutralizing antibody” developed at the Israel Biological Research Institute (IIBR) “can neutralize it (the disease-causing coronavirus) within the bodies of the carriers,” the defense minister said in a statement.
Bennett visited the laboratories of the Israel Biological Research Institute (IIBR), supervised by the Prime Minister’s Office and mandated to develop a coronavirus vaccine, at Ness Ziona on Monday and was shown the “antibody that attacks the virus monoclonally and can neutralize it within the bodies of the sick, “said a statement from his office.
The statement said that the development of the antibody had been completed and that the institute was in the process of patenting the finding, and in the next stage, the researchers will approach international companies to produce the antibody on a commercial scale.
BREAKING: The Israeli Institute for Biological Research (IIBR) has completed the development phase of a # COVID-19-19 innovative antibody or passive vaccine that attacks the virus, neutralizing it in the body, according to a statement from the Ministry of Defense. https://t.co/rt10LR6t2Q
– Michael Dickson (@michaeldickson) May 4, 2020
“I am proud of the institute staff for this breakthrough,” said Bennett, adding that “their creativity and Jewish mind sparked this incredible achievement.”
Citing medical sources, the Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz had reported in March that the institute’s scientists had made significant progress in understanding the biological mechanism and qualities of the virus, including better diagnostic capacity, antibody production for those who already have the virus and development of a vaccine.
It was not immediately clear if the progress presented to Bennett was additional to the progress reported in late March, and no further details were provided. The statement also did not specify whether human trials were conducted.
IIBR was established in 1952 as part of the Israel Defense Forces Science Corps and later became a civil organization. It is technically under the supervision of the Prime Minister’s Office, but is in close communication with the Ministry of Defense.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is said to have ordered the institute to devote resources to developing a vaccine against COVID-19 on February 1.
In particular, the normal process for developing such a vaccine requires a lengthy process of preclinical animal testing, followed by clinical trials. This period allows a complete characterization of the side effects and a better understanding of how different populations are affected.
In early February, five shipments of virus samples arrived in Israel from Japan, Italy and other countries, the Ynet news portal reported, a PTI report said, adding that they were brought in by an especially safe Defense Ministry courier service. to IIBR and had been frozen at -80 degrees Celsius.
Experts believe that the time required to develop a vaccine ranges from a few months to a year and a half. Numerous research teams from around the world participate in the race to develop a vaccine for COVID-19.
(With contributions from the agency)
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