COVID-19 antibodies
Towards antibodies against COVID-19
February 2020: The lab of Xavier Saelens announces the isolation and characterization of a unique antibody that can bind to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The antibody was described in collaboration with research groups in the US. The team has established that the antibody binds to a conserved epitope on the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. Importantly, the antibody can neutralize a lab variant of the virus, an important step forward in the development of a potential antiviral drug against the new coronavirus. Their work appears in Cell.
Beat COVID-19
The VIB teams of Xavier Saelens and Nico Callewaert are developing promising drug candidates to treat COVID-19. These efforts have already led to the development of a new start-up company, ExeVir Bio, which will develop these drugs into the clinic. In this movie, Xavier Saelens and colleagues explain how they immediately made the connection between the COVID-19-outbreak and the llama-derived antibody stored in their freezer.
Llama derived antibody to treat COVID-19
Animation that shows how the llama-derived antibody prevents the novel coronavirus from infecting our lungs.
Xavier Saelens and Bert Schepens team wins the 2020 Distinguished Research Award of MolecularCloud
The research at the basis of this groundbreaking work has already been recognized with the 2020 MolecularCloud Distinguished Research Award. This award is given to research achievements that have significantly impacted the studies of COVID-19 and the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) that causes it.
From llama to patients: the story of ExeVir Bio
Researchers from VIB have shown that llama antibodies can protect against COVID-19 in lab animals. To further develop these antibodies into a medicine, VIB established a new start-up, ExeVir Bio. The new company will start testing the drug in COVID-19-patients in the coming months.
Four years ago, scientists from Xavier Saelens’ lab developed an effective antibody – with the help of Winter the llama – to fight the SARS-CoV-1 virus. When COVID-19 exploded onto the global scene in January 2020, VIB raced against the clock to set up a spin-off company with an audacious ambition: to initiate clinic tests with a novel COVID-19-treatment based on this antibody by the end of 2020 and to start commercial production by mid-2021.
History and future come together
Llama Winter, who's antibodies were used in VIB's research to fight COVID-19, has retired. Artist Koen Vanmechelen takes care of her in his park Labiomista.
