Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have discovered neutralized antibodies in alpacas that have the ability to block the virus from entering our cells.

The researchers believe that this antibody has the potential to develop into a drug against covid-19.

In February, researchers from Karolinska Institutet injected an alpaca in Germany with surface protein from covid-19.

Two months later, when the researchers took blood samples, it turned out that the alpaca had a strong immune response.

Åsa Ragnarsson, who runs an alpaca farm outside Nykvarn, is not surprised.

- Alpacas are fantastic animals and there are many useful areas with them, she says.

Reduce the cost

What is unique about the antibodies is that they are one tenth as large as traditional antibodies, which means that they can be produced to a greater extent by fairly simple means.

Something that makes the method cost-effective.

Now the researchers hope that their discovery will lead to a possible drug candidate against infection.