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So far, only one drug for Covid-19 has been effective against the Omicron variant, sotrovimab, but that drug is unlikely to work against the new version of the variant, new research published in “bioRxiv” suggests.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is analyzing the different subvariants of Ómicron but the data published in
«bioRxiv» before the review show that the rapidly spreading BA.2 subvariant “showed marked resistance” to sotrovimab in laboratory experiments, the researchers write.
GSKannounced Thursday, without formally publishing any data, that its drug retains the ability to neutralize BA.2.
David Ho de la
columbia university
(USA), lead author of the study «
bioRxiv», notes that the research “also showed that sotrovimab maintains activity against BA.2, according to their statement. But their activity has been reduced substantially, 27 times as indicated in our research.”
For now, only bebtelovimab, from Eli Lillyremained potent in neutralizing all subvariants of Ómicron, and two other antibody drugs, cilgavimab and tixagevimab, remained effective against BA.2, but are only approved to prevent Covid-19 under certain circumstances, not to treat it.