Llamas may hold key to COVID-19 therapy

The cute camelids have unusually small antibodies which are 'effective' at neutralising SARS-CoV-2
Fifi the llama. Photo: University of Reading

She’s woolly and sociable, and researchers also hope Fifi the llama will hold the key to an immune therapy to eventually treat COVID-19.

Llamas have unusually small antibodies called nanobodies and it’s these immune agents the UK authors say may provide a treatment that could be easily delivered as a nasal spray.