One for All?

New antibody neutralizes all known SARS-CoV-2 variants in lab tests

By NANCY FLIESLER | Boston Children’s
August 15, 2022

4 min read

This article is part of Harvard Medical School’s continuing coverage of COVID-19.

As the COVID-19 pandemic wears on, newer variants of SARS-CoV-2 have been evolving ways to evade the antibodies our bodies make in response to vaccination or prior infections. Breakthrough cases have resulted, and antibody treatments that once worked also have become less effective over time.

Scientists have been searching for an antibody that would be broadly neutralizing — able to fight off any viral variant that might emerge.

An antibody developed by researchers at Harvard Medical School and Boston Children’s Hospital now seems to fit the bill.

In lab tests, it neutralized all currently known SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, including all omicron variants.

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