Nasal Monoclonal Antibody Effective Against Covid Variants & MERS

Researchers have discovered a neutralising monoclonal antibody that potentially acts as a potent universal coronavirus therapy against SARS-CoV-2 and all its variants of concern, including beta, gamma, delta, epsilon and omicron.

It showed effectiveness against the deadly previous coronaviruses SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. It even showed effectiveness against several common cold coronaviruses, according to the study published in the journal PLOS Pathogens.

The monoclonal antibody - 1249A8 hmAb - targets the S2 stalk region of the viral spike (S) protein that is highly conserved among beta-coronaviruses, yet is also essential for the virus to attach and enter cells, leading to infection.


When given as an intraperitoneal injection or a nasal dose, it protected mice from SARS-CoV-2 illness, as measured by maintenance of body weight and clearance of virus from mouse lungs four days after infection, said the team from University of Alabama at Birmingham.

"New Covid variants pose risk of evading the immune system "even in vaccinated infected individuals" said James J Kobie, from the varsity.