Newly Discovered Monkey Antibodies Could Hold Key To Vaccine Against All Coronavirus Strains - Forbes

Researchers have identified monkey antibodies that are effective against numerous Covid variants and other coronaviruses, according to research published Wednesday in Science Translational Medicine, a discovery that could help scientists develop better vaccines and prepare for future pandemics as pharma firms race to update their shots.

Rhesus macaque monkeys can generate a more comprehensive immune response to coronaviruses than humans and produce antibodies that are effective against many different coronaviruses, according to Scripps Research scientists.

The scientists said the antibodies target part of the virus that stays the same across many different coronaviruses and is less likely to mutate over time, something that could possibly open the door to new vaccines that work against multiple Covid variants.

These vaccines, still based on the original Covid strain identified, are highly effective at preventing serious illness, hospitalization and death, though their ability to prevent new infections has waned with the advent of new variants and drugmakers are hurrying to test new formulas addressing them.