An experimental antiviral drug has been shown to prevent Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).
MERS is closely related to the fast-spreading coronavirus that originated in China.
The drug also reduced the severity of symptoms in monkeys infected with MERS.
The results raise hope that the drug, Remdesivir might be effective against the new coronavirus.
The new virus has infected some 60,000 people globally, and killed more than 1,300, mostly in China.
Many drugs that succeed in monkeys fail in humans, but researchers said their findings bolster hopes.