Early laboratory results signal that a COVID-19 antibody developed by GlaxoSmithKline Plc and Vir Biotechnology is effective against the Omicron variant.
- The companies stated that they had a test drug, known as sotrovimab, against certain individual mutations found in Omicron that has now been detected in at least 24 countries, including the United States.
- The companies noted that the findings were only preliminary, and further test against the whole of the mutated spike protein in the variant was needed to confirm the results.
- The early signals are possible because Glaxo and Vir had initially tested sotrovimab against mutations that emerged in other variants.
- Sotrovimab targets a spot on the spike protein that is also presented in other COVID-19 viruses and to prevent potential mutation.
Even though Omicron contains at least two mutations that overlap with sotrovimab’s target position, previous tests signal that these differences do not affect the drug’s ability to bind the spike protein.
GSK down -0.078%, VIR up +6.04%Source: The Wall Street Journal
