NL: Dutch Researchers First To Find COVID-19 Antibodies: Report

[Mike 03]

NL Times: Netherlands news in English
DUTCH RESEARCHERS FIRST TO FIND COVID-19 ANTIBODIES: REPORT
By Zack Newmark on March 14, 2020 - 11:53

A team of ten scientific researchers from the Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam and Utrecht University say they are the first in the world to discover an antibody capable of fending off an infection by the Covid-19 variant of coronavirus. The discovery could lead to an antiviral medication, and the ability for people to test themselves at home for the presence of the virus.

“I am too old to jump on a table,” said cellular biology professor Frank Grosveld to Erasmus Magazine. Their article is undergoing a peer review by other researchers on the online platform BioRxiv, and they believe it well then be published by top science journal Nature.

"Here we report a human monoclonal antibody that neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 (and SARS-CoV)," the researchers state in their academic paper's abstract. This is the SARS-2 virus, which causes coronavirus induced disease 19, or Covid-19 for short.

They claim the antibody they found "neutralizes" the virus, and "offers the potential to prevent and/or treat COVID-19, and possibly also other future emerging diseases in humans caused by viruses from the Sarbecovirus subgenus."

"As far as we know, this is the very first antibody that blocks the infection," Grosveld explained to the magazine. "Finding something like this is very rare," he said.

Their research would not necessarily lead to a vaccine, but rather a new medicine that could be used to treat those infected with the current coronavirus strain. It could be developed far faster than a vaccine, but would need months of testing, he stated, adding that it would also be more expensive to produce than a vaccine.

"We are now trying to get a pharmaceutical company on board – which is looking promising, by the way – that can produce the antibody on a large scale as a medicine," Grosveld said.

"If you were to take this as a patient, it is expected – only an expectation right now – that the infection will be stopped. And so it can give the patient an opportunity to recover," he told the magazine.

Nothing more at link: https://nltimes.nl/2020/03/14/dutch-researchers-first-find-covid-19-antibodies-report

Maybe this is promising? Their study still needs to undergo peer review.

[mrs_p]

1. This would indeed be promising! nt

[global1]

2. This Is One Of Those 'Put A Man On The Moon' Moments aka JFK.....

We should mobilize every resource we have to see this through an accelerated development. If we can put a man on the moon - this too is doable.

This is one of those moments where the top 1% can pool their billions of dollars together and do something good with their money for a change.

[Victor_c3]

7. Hate to say it, but I'm not going to hold my breath on that one

Billionaires got to be billionaires by finding a niche and exploiting it to make a profit. Being truly generous with their horde of money and helping mankind is not in their being. Sure, some of them will donate a small portion of their wealth. Perhaps I’m too much of a cynic, but I believe most do it to give themselves a good image and not that they truly want to help society.

I just don’t understand this. I’ll f I had $100 billion, I’d spend all but say $500 million on making the world better. With half a billion dollars, I’d still be fantastically rich and I could sleep good at night knowing that something good would come out of my wealth.

[luvtheGWN]

9. It sounds like just the thing

that Bill Gates would fund. Won't be surprised if that happens.

[global1]

15. Bloomberg Spent $500 Million For How Many Votes?.....

A billion for him is just a drop in the bucket. How much did Steyer spend? Somebody else here mentioned Bill Gates. What about Bezos and Zuckenberg and Buffett?

Right there with these guys they can put together $6 Billion and maybe guilt other billionaires into putting some money in as well.

Wouldn't they want to go down in history for saving the world.

We could also get a 'go fund me' account going. Have us common folk donate to the cause. It is certainly money well spent - instead of funding political campaigns. 300 million Americans can probably come up with another Billion.

This is a time for thinking out of the box. This is our 'man on the moon' moment.

Come on you billionaire's - let's get going!!!!!

[MrModerate]

17. See Gates, William. n/t

[Dennis Donovan]

3. Kick

Hoping this pans out!

[rurallib]

4. Thanks for the great news in the morning!

[lark]

5. Woohoo for science

These repug cretins here reject science and so are responsible for closing down so much of our society, and the rapidly spreading sickness which is being hidden on purpose.

[erlewyne]

6. Trump will take credit for it.

Just saying.

I am devastated by his ignorance. And if some miracle like this saves
our poor souls, Trump will take responsibility,

[librechik]

11. Trump will refuse to support it because Foreigners.

what a dirtbag.

[CottonBear]

8. Yay for science! 🧫 🧪 🧫 🧬

Pharmaceutical companies that can produce antibodies and vaccines in countries other than China will be key, along with low or no cost treatment for patients.

It sure would be nice if the USA had a national health care system rather than a for profit health care industry.

[highplainsdem]

10. Great news!

[wnylib]

12. Sounds promising

although we still have months to get through a pandemic before it is available. The price will be high in order to recover R & D costs, and then make a good profit.

So hang onto your hand sanitizer and don't throw out your latex gloves. An ounce of prevention is worth a thousand pounds (£) of cure.

[Midnight Writer]

13. Those damn socialists beat out the capitalists again!

But don't worry. The businessmen in our country will still make a profit.

[jumptheshadow]

14. Oh, those Europeans

They just keep on seeding the virus, don't they?

[safeinOhio]

16. Whoa, Holland is on that Do Not Enter list.

Can't land here.

[Goodheart]

18. Watson and Crick.