University of Wisconsin–Madison

Category: COVID-19

Current anti-COVID pills work well against omicron, but antibody drugs are less effective

The drugs behind the new pills to treat COVID-19 remain very effective against the omicron variant of the virus in lab tests, according to a new study. However, lab tests also showed that the available antibody therapies — typically given intravenously in hospitals — are substantially less effective against omicron than against earlier variants of …

Omicron causes less severe illness in animal models than previous variants

A new study confirms that, compared to earlier versions of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the omicron variant causes less severe disease in mice and hamsters, which are reliable models for understanding COVID-19. The findings, previously available as a preprint and published following peer review today (Jan. 21) in the journal Nature, align with preliminary data from …

UW–Madison researchers lead effort to create a universal coronavirus vaccine

The National Institutes of Health is investing in three teams working to develop a vaccine against a broad range of coronaviruses. Among them is a research collaboration, the Pan-Coronavirus Vaccine consortium, led by UW–Madison School of Veterinary Medicine Professor of Pathobiological Sciences Yoshihiro Kawaoka, who is also a GHI Advisory Committee member.