A Shelton lab that could hold the key to curing COVID-19 is asking for federal funding with help from Sen. Richard Blumenthal.

NanoViricides say it's trying to copy antibodies to neutralize coronavirus before it can attack.

"We have designed a 'venus flytrap' for viruses. Just like a fly is attracted to the venus flytrap flower and goes inside and the flower closes in on it, our material - the virus is attracted to it. And once it binds, it actually literally spills onto the virus and closes onto it," says NanoViricides President Anil Diwan.

President Donald Trump's national emergency may help them begin animal testing in a month, with human trials a few weeks later.

NanoViricides leaders say any drug they create could be used with other treatments.

"It's critical that we get a piece of that funding," says a lab official.

The Shelton lab says it believes any drug it develops will still work even if the virus mutates in the coming years.