Bay Area scientists say they're one step closer to engineering cure for COVID-19
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (KGO) -- There's new hope from a group of Bay Area scientists who have been working around the clock to find a cure for COVID-19.
Dr. Jacob Glanville, president and CEO of Distributed Bio, and its therapeutics spin-out, Centivax, is developing an antibody therapeutic to treat the novel coronavirus. He says his team is now one step closer to finding a cure.
RELATED: San Francisco doctor featured in Netflix's 'Pandemic' claims possible COVID-19 treatment
"Once we have this therapy in our hands, if you have to go to the hospital or your loved one has to go to the hospital, you can give them the therapy and instead of getting more sick and being at the risk of dying, they get better rapidly and they go home," said Glanville, who is widely known for appearing in Netflix's "Pandemic" docuseries.
Three independent laboratories, including one at Stanford University, have now confirmed that multiple Centivax antibodies previously used in treating SARS, are potent neutralizers of COVID-19. Viral neutralization means that the antibodies are able to completely block the novel coronavirus from infecting human cells.
Glanville added: "We definitely need vaccines, but they take a good amount of time to develop and you can't give them to those who are already sick because vaccines often take four, five, or six weeks to take effect."
RELATED: Volunteers want to be injected with COVID-19 to help find vaccine
The initial laboratory results are encouraging to many infectious disease experts who emphasize that any possible cure or vaccine will need to be safely scaled for maximum reach.
"We think this virus can be conquered and we think we have the technology to do it," said Dr. Yvonne Maldonado, a professor at Stanford University School of Medicine. "We just need to be very careful in making sure that the products that are made are safe."
Centivax will continue to do research and lab testing in the coming months with the hope of conducting a human study by August.
A possible treatment could be ready by September if approved by the federal government.
"The minute we have an antibody therapy we can end the crisis," said Glanville.
If you have a question or comment about the coronavirus pandemic, submit yours via the form below or here.
Get the latest news, information and videos about the novel coronavirus pandemic here
RELATED STORIES & VIDEOS:
- COVID-19 Help: Comprehensive list of resources, information
- INTERACTIVE TIMELINE: How close was CA to becoming a NY-level crisis?
- Live updates about coronavirus outbreak in US, around the world
- What will it take to get a COVID-19 vaccine and how will it be made?
- How California's COVID-19 cases stack up against other hot spot states
- Everything you need to know about the Bay Area's shelter-in-place order
- Coronavirus Timeline: Tracking major moments of COVID-19 pandemic in San Francisco Bay Area/
- List: Where can I get tested for COVID-19 in the Bay Area?
- COVID-19 Diaries: Personal stories of Bay Area residents during novel coronavirus pandemic
- Coronavirus Doctor's Note: Dr. Alok Patel gives his insight into COVID-19 pandemic
- What does COVID-19 do to your body and why does it spread so easily?
- Stimulus calculator: How much money should you expect from coronavirus relief bill
- WATCH: 'Race & Coronavirus: A Bay Area Conversation' virtual town hall about COVID-19 impact on Asian American community
- WATCH: 'Race & Coronavirus: A Bay Area Conversation' virtual town hall about COVID-19 impact on African American community
- WATCH: 'Race & Coronavirus: A Bay Area Conversation' virtual town hall about COVID-19 impact on Latino community
- What Bay Area tenants need to know about rent payments, eviction amid COVID-19 outbreak
- Here's how shelter in place, stay at home orders can slow spread of COVID-19
- Symptoms, prevention, and how to prepare for a COVID-19 outbreak in the US
- List of stores, companies closing due to coronavirus pandemic
- Canceled late fees, free services available amid COVID-19 crisis
- Here's how you can help during COVID-19 pandemic
- How to maintain learning during school closures
- No masks but here are 100+ products that may help protect you against novel coronavirus germs
- Here's a look at some of history's worst pandemics that have killed millions
