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Donald Trump’s antibody treatment was developed with cells that are ultimately derived from an aborted fetus, it has emerged.
Regeneron’s ‘antibody cocktail’ administered to the president was tested using a supply of human HEK 293T cells, which have been cloned and modified in scientific laboratories for decades, but which originate from the kidney of an aborted baby in the 1970s .
According to MIT Technology Review, labs that include Regeneron use 293T cells to make tiny particles that mimic the coronavirus.
The company did not deny the link to abortion, but said the currently available modified cells “are not considered fetal tissue.”
“This is how you want to analyze it,” said spokeswoman Alexandra Bowie, adding that “otherwise we don’t use fetal tissue.”
Trump, who has tried to restrict abortion rights during his presidency, praised Regeneron’s success and promised to make it free to the public after his apparent recovery from Covid-19.
Donald Trump speaks outside the White House after his apparent recovery from Covid-19 which he has attributed to Regeneron’s ‘antibody cocktail’
Trump received an experimental ‘antibody cocktail’ made by Regeneron, as well as a number of other drugs to treat his coronavirus infection.
HEK 293 is a ‘human cell line’ that is ultimately derived from the kidney of a fetus that was aborted in the Netherlands around 1973.
A subgroup is 293T cells, which are widely used in biological research.
The use of HEK 293 cells to test Covid-19 vaccines has previously drawn objections from Catholic groups and pro-life medical workers, although the Vatican has indicated in the past that it is allowed.
In 2017, the Pontifical Academy for Life of the Vatican said in reference to other vaccines that ‘the cell lines currently used are very distant from the original abortions’.
“We believe that all clinically recommended vaccines can be used with a clear conscience and that the use of such vaccines does not signify some kind of cooperation with voluntary abortion,” the Academy said.
Regeneron says that 293T cells were used to make ‘pseudoparticles’ – small structures that resemble the Covid-19 virus.
These dummy viruses are used to test whether the “antibody cocktail” would be effective in fighting Covid-19.
Trump has embraced anti-abortion rhetoric both as a Republican candidate and as president, although he expressed pro-abortion views before entering politics.
In January, Trump became the first sitting president to speak at the March for Life anti-abortion rally, claiming that “ unborn children have never had a stronger advocate in the White House. ”
Abortion rights groups fear that Trump’s Supreme Court elections, including the pending nomination of Amy Coney Barrett, will lead to the weakening or elimination of abortion rights.
The 1973 Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade prevents states from banning abortion entirely, but conservative activists want the ruling overturned.
Barrett’s confirmation would give a 6-3 majority in court to justices appointed by Republican presidents, following the death of liberal Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Trump’s re-election campaign also touts a rule enacted in 2019 that allows healthcare workers to refuse to perform abortions on religious or conscientious grounds.
However, the rule was struck down months later by a federal judge who said it was unconstitutional for the government to withhold billions of dollars in funds from hospitals, clinics, universities and other health care providers that do not comply.
Despite these positions, Trump touted Regeneron’s success in a video filmed at the White House on Wednesday in which he promised it would be free to Americans.
“In a very short period of time they gave me Regeneron, it’s called Regeneron, and other things too, but I think this was the key,” he said of his treatment.
It was like incredible. I felt good right away. I felt as good three days ago as now.
“So I just want to say, we have Regeneron, we have a very similar drug from Eli Lilly, and they’re coming out, and we’re trying to get them in an emergency.”
Regeneron’s ‘cocktail’ includes some antibodies made by the company’s scientists and others extracted from people who have recovered from Covid-19.
While the end goal is a vaccine that trains the body to make its own antibodies, scientists are already sifting through the antibodies of recovered patients to find the most effective among thousands.
The antibodies in Regeneron’s product are intended to bind to the distinctive ‘spike’ protein of the Covid-19 virus, knocking it out of shape.
Regeneron’s chief scientist last month boasted that the cocktail “rapidly lowered viral load and associated symptoms” in tests on infected patients.
The product was then catapulted into the limelight when Trump’s physician, Dr. Sean Conley, announced that it was being administered to the commander-in-chief.
Regeneron scientists work with a bioreactor at a facility in New York state during their work on an experimental antibody drug
Regeneron said he agreed to provide a one-time dose to Trump at the request of his doctor under “compassionate use” provisions.
An infectious disease expert said the president’s doctors “would expect this to be relatively low risk” despite the experimental nature of the drug.
Since Trump touted its success, patients have applied to join clinical trials and Regeneron’s stock has increased.
Regeneron has received $ 450 million from the United States government for up to 300,000 doses of the cocktail.
While Trump’s health has been the subject of mixed messages in the past week, the president insisted today that he felt “really good, I think perfect.”
“I think I’m better to the point where I would love to have a rally tonight,” Trump said in an interview with Fox Business, adding that he no longer believes it is “contagious at all.”
“I was tremendously lucky with this Regeneron,” Trump said during the interview.
Dr. Conley said that Trump had developed antibodies that Regeneron said likely came from his product.
Trump spent months this year promoting hydroxychloroquine, an antimalarial drug, which is not proven as a treatment for Covid-19.
