LEXINGTON, Ky. — A researcher at the University of Kentucky believes he may have found the secret weapon to fighting against coronavirus: alpacas.

What You Need To Know


  • UK researcher studies alpacas as treatment for COVID-19

  • Alpacas produce special antibodies called nanobodies

  • Same nanobodies used to treat diabetes and certain cancers

According to UK professor Sidney Whiteheart, alpacas may be the answer scientists have been searching for as a coronavirus treatment.

The UK College of Medicine says researchers are using the special antibodies made by alpacas called nanobodies. 

Nanobodies are the smaller and more stable types of antibodies taken from the immune system in alpacas. 

The researchers are using the blood samples from the alpacas and testing the nanobodies in the blood. They then use the sample for research in potential drug development. 

“So we thought that making nanobodies to the COVID virus might give us a tool or might give us actually a drug in the long run, but a tool that can inhibit the ability of the virus to infect cells," Whiteheart said. 

This is not the first time alpacas have been used for drug development. For three years, these alpacas at the university have helped generate more than 50 different nanobodies to help with a variety of human diseases such as diabetes and certain cancers. 

Whiteheart and his team are still in the researching phases and hoping to come up with a product to test within the next couple of months.