GSK, Vir Say Their Covid Antibody Treatment Can Neutralize Fast-Spreading Omicron Relative

Topline

A Covid-19 antibody treatment developed by Vir Biotechnology and GlaxoSmithKline is still capable of neutralizing the infectious omicron subvariant, BA.2, Vir announced Thursday, offering early hope that one of the only treatments shown to be effective against omicron will still be useful against the variant’s fast-spreading relative.    

Key Facts

Vir said the antibody treatment, sotrovimab, “retains neutralizing activity against the BA.2 subvariant of omicron,” according to laboratory studies on a modified virus designed to have the variant’s mutations.

The company said it is sharing the results with regulators around the world and plans to publish the data “in the coming week.”

Data from studies with live virus will follow, Vir added. 

Vir chief executive George Scangos said the data supports the continued use of sotrovimab against Covid and suggests a standard dose of the therapy is “sufficient to retain activity against the BA.2 variant.” 

Key Background

Sotrovimab, which is authorized for emergency use against Covid in the U.S., is one of the few treatments shown to be effective against the omicron variant. Other monoclonal antibody treatments from Regeneron and Eli Lilly, which were highly effective against other virus variants, were shown to be ineffective against omicron, prompting the Food and Drug Administration to formally limit their use. Despite evidence the treatments do not work against omicron, they are still used widely in some states and are accepted by many who reject vaccination. The issue has become another political fighting point between typically Republican leaders—who feel the drug should still be available—and federal officials. 

Tangent 

Evidence suggests the BA.2 subvariant, dubbed “stealth omicron” by some scientists for its potential to evade detection by some tests, is more infectious and better at infecting vaccinated people than the original omicron strain, though does not appear to cause more severe disease. In early February, the World Health Organization said it had been identified in 57 countries around the world and was rapidly outpacing the original omicron strain in some. It is already the dominant form of omicron in Denmark and South Africa.

Further Reading

U.S. officials limit treatments that don’t work on Omicron, but doctors say alternatives are scarce. (NYT)

Here’s What We Know About ‘Stealth’ Omicron BA.2 — The More Infectious Subvariant Better Able To Infect Vaccinated People (Forbes)

‘Stealth’ Omicron Sub-Variant Detected In 57 Countries, WHO Says (Forbes)

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