Scientists at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine say they appear to have made a breakthrough when it comes to the treatment and potential prevention of coronavirus.

Researchers claim to have isolated “the smallest biological molecule” that “completely and specifically neutralizes” the virus that causes the coronavirus.

A drug called Ab8 has been created and is an antibody component that is 10 times smaller than normal, complete antibody.

Scientists at the University of Pittsburgh have isolated a biomolecule that ‘completely and specifically’ neutralizes the virus that causes the coronavirus

Scientists were encouraged by studies that appear to be “highly effective” in preventing and treating the SARS-CoV-2 infections in mice and hamsters.

Importantly, it doesn’t bind to human cells – a good sign that it won’t have negative side effects in humans.

The drug could be seen as a potential preventive against SARS-CoV-2, according to the technicians UPMC.

“Not only does Ab8 have potential as a therapy for COVID-19, but it can also be used to prevent people from getting SARS-CoV-2 infections,” said study co-author John Mellors, chief of the Infectious Diseases division at Pitt. UPMC. .

Researchers so far isolated the smallest biological molecule that neutralizes the SARS-CoV-2 virus, pictured

Larger sized antibodies have worked against other infectious diseases and are well tolerated, giving us hope that it could be an effective treatment for patients with COVID-19 and to protect those who have never had the infection and are not immune . ‘

Researchers must now find out that people may be able to take the drug by injection or perhaps inhalation through the nose.

Ab8 was evaluated by teams of scientists from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) and University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston, as well as the University of British Columbia and University of Saskatchewan.

All noted how it appeared to prevent the virus from entering the cells.

The mice that received Ab8 had ten times less infectious virus than the rodents that were not treated with the new drug.

The new drug was evaluated by teams of scientists from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) and University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston, as well as the University of British Columbia and University of Saskatchewan.