Sotrovimab Is Effective Against Omicron Variant of Coronavirus

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Sotrovimab Is Effective Against Omicron Variant of Coronavirus

A monoclonal antibody developed by GlaxoSmithKline and Vir Biotechnology successfully counteracts a new strain of SARS-CoV-2.

 

Highlights

GlaxoSmithKline and Vir Biotechnology reported that sotrovimab maintains neutralizing activity against the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, which is now generating incredible media hype. Public concern is that the Omicron could dramatically reduce the effectiveness of treatment and vaccination.

A study of the Omicron strain (B.1.1.529) in a pseudotyped viral system found that in vitro sotrovimab retained activity against its key mutations. These did not change the effects of sotrovimab binding to its target. This is consistent with previous deep mutation scanning data examining the effect of specific amino acid substitutions in SARS-CoV-2 on sotrovimab.

To ensure that sotrovimab is fully prepared to repel an Omicron attack, the partners will test the neutralizing activity of their drug against a combination of all mutations inherent to this variant of the coronavirus by the end of this year.

Sotrovimab was previously found to be successful against other strains of SARS-CoV-2, which, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification, are listed as “variants of concern”, such as Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351), Gamma (P.1), Delta (B.1.617.2), and Delta plus (AY.1/AY.2).

Sotrovimab, still generally an experimental drug, has already been approved for use in two dozen countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Russia, Spain, Brazil, and others. It is marketed under the brand name Xevudy.

Sotrovimab is indicated for the treatment of COVID-19 infection in adults and children (12 years of age and older weighing at least 40 kg), who do not require oxygen support (COVID-19 is of mild-to-moderate severity) and who are in the high-risk group for progression to severe disease, including hospitalization or death.

According to a final efficacy analysis of sotrovimab, it reduces the risk of hospitalization and/or death by 79%.

Sotrovimab: Mechanism of Action

Sotrovimab (VIR-7831) is a recombinant human IgG1 monoclonal antibody that neutralizes the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.

Sotrovimab is a derivative of antibodies isolated from memory B-cells of a patient who survived the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) caused by the SARS-CoV-1 coronavirus from the 2003 sample.

Sotrovimab is targeted to the highly conserved epitope of the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein. The choice of the target, which is unlikely to ever seriously mutate the indicated epitope, allows us to safely assume that sotrovimab retains therapeutic efficacy against various variants of coronavirus, current and forthcoming.

Sotrovimab recognizes the epitope containing the glycan at position N343. This epitope, which is highly conserved in SARS-like coronaviruses of the Sarbecovirus subgenus, including SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV-1, is in a region of RBD that does not compete with angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) binding.

 

link  :  https://biopharma.media/sotrovimab-is-effective-against-omicron-variant-of-coronavirus-2357/

 

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GSK Indicates 'Sotrovimab' Antibody Drug Is Effective Against Omicron

Drugmaker GSK said that lab tests have shown the sotrovimab antibody works against viruses that were bio-engineered to carry a number of mutations of the Omicron variant.

By: ABP News Bureau | Updated : 02 Dec 2021 05:32 PM (IST)

 

Laboratory analysis of the anti-body drug which is being developed by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Vir shows that it is also effective against the Omicron variant of Covid-19. 

 

The British drugmaker, GSK said it in a  statement. It said that lab tests have shown the sotrovimab antibody works against viruses that were bio-engineered to carry a number of mutations of the Omicron variant.

 

“Sotrovimab was deliberately designed with a mutating virus in mind," said Vir Chief Executive George Scangos, as the drug was developed targeting a region of the spike protein that was not expected to mutate. 

 

George Scangos, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of Vir, said: “Sotrovimab was deliberately designed with a mutating virus in mind. By targeting a highly conserved region of the spike protein that is less likely to mutate, we hoped to address both the current SARS-CoV-2 virus and future variants that we expected would be inevitable. This hypothesis has borne out again and again – with its ongoing ability to maintain activity against all tested variants of concern and interest to date, including key mutations found in Omicron, as demonstrated by preclinical data. We have every expectation that this positive trend will continue and are working rapidly to confirm its activity against the full combination sequence of Omicron.”

Sotrovimab is an investigational SARS-CoV-2 neutralising monoclonal antibody. It is authorised for emergency use in the United States. 

 

"We are pleased that this treatment option is available to patients in the US and many other countries, and are working to expand access worldwide.” said Dr Hal Barron, Chief Scientific Officer and President R&D, GSK.

 

link  :  https://news.abplive.com/health/gsk-indicates-sotrovimab-antibody-drug-is-effective-against-omicron-1497209

 

 

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British COVID-19 drug Sotrovimab approved: effective against Omicron

 3 days ago

British COVID-19 drug Sotrovimab approved: effective against Omicron.

Recently, the new coronavirus mutant strain Omicron reported in South Africa has attracted global attention, and the WHO has assessed its overall global risk as “very high”, which means that it may spread widely in the world.

According to foreign media reports, a study published on the preprint server “BioRxiv” showed that a COVID-19 monoclonal antibody drug called “Sotrovimab” is effective against Omicron.

The report pointed out that “Sotrovimab” was developed by the British GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and the American biotechnology company Vir Biotechnology (VIR).

However, the research has not yet passed peer review.

 

The research was conducted on a pseudovirus of all variants of the new coronavirus, including key mutations carried by the Omicron strain.

The results showed that the “Sotrovimab” monoclonal antibody was still active against Omicron strain.

Vir CEO Dr. George Scangos (George Scangos) said in a statement that “Sotrovimab” is specially designed.

When the design points out, it takes into account the possible mutation of the virus, and the antibody targets the spike protein. The part where mutations are unlikely to occur.

It is worth mentioning that due to the high infectivity and ability of the Omi Kiron strain to evade vaccine protection, many vaccine companies are developing new vaccines against it.

American vaccine company Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel (Stephane Bancel) has stated that the existing vaccines will be far less effective in dealing with the Omi Kiron strain, and there will be a substantial decline.

At present, the British Medicines and Medical Products Regulatory Agency has approved “Sotrovimab” for the treatment of COVID-19. In addition, the United States, Japan and other countries have also approved “Sotrovimab” for the treatment of COVID-19s.

British COVID-19 drug Sotrovimab approved: effective against Omicron.

 

link  :  https://medicaltrend.org/2021/12/02/british-covid-19-drug-sotrovimab-approved-effective-against-omicron/

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GlaxoSmithKline Approves Sotrovimab Reportedly Effective Against Covid-19’S Omicron Variant

3 days ago

 

On Thursday, U.K. lawmakers just greenlit a drug from pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) that is said to treat individuals who are deemed to have higher risks of catching Covid-19. The pharma firm even claims that the latest medication may well seem to be effective against the recently identified Omicron strain.  

Enter Sotrovimab  

Dubbed as sotrovimab, the new drug – according to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) – is an antibody treatment that is said to be safe and effective in the reduction of the risk of getting hospitalized and death in individuals having mild to moderate symptoms of Covid-19 who are at an elevated risk of progressing to a severe one, Medical Xpress reports.  

Further, this new drug is a monoclonal antibody which is a type of protein that binds itself to the coronavirus’ spike protein. This results in the reduction of the virus’ activity to access the body cells.   

Alongside GSK, California-based Vir Biotechnology also took part in the development of sotrovimab.    

Sotrovimab against the Omicron variant  

In a statement by GSK, it was revealed within the drug’s preclinical data that it is retaining the activity against key mutations of the latest Omicron strain of the coronavirus.  

Additionally, the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that sotrovimab has shown continuous activity against the entirety of the tested variants of interest and concern.  

It was highlighted that there is still continuous testing to confirm sotrovimab’s neutralizing activity against all of the mutations of the Omicron variant as an update is scheduled to be rolled out by the end of the year.  

MHRA revealed that a dose of this new drug from GSK can reduce the risk of hospitalization and death by 79 percent among adults with symptomatic Covid-19 infection.  

Omicron case in the U.S.  

Chronicle News recently reported that Covid-19’s new Omicron variant has already entered the United States as this was detected from an individual in California who happens to have traveled from South Africa. According to National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci, the person is undergoing self-quarantine and is as of late experiencing mild symptoms as these are said to be improving. 

 

link  :  https://chronicle99.com/2021/12/03/glaxosmithkline-approves-sotrovimab-reportedly-effective-against-covid-19s-omicron-variant/