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GSK’s Covid-19 drug effective against highly-mutated new Omicron variant, study shows

GSK today said its antibody treatment for Covid-19 is effective against omicron despite the new variant's high level of mutations.

The drug-maker reported results of pre-clinical studies carried out in a laboratory which suggest sotrovimab retains activity against all 37 mutations so far identified in the virus's spike protein.

The findings, which have not been peer reviewed and were published in an update to the stock market, contributed to a rally across world markets which lifted the FTSE100 to its highest level since omicron's discovery spooked investors last month.

Shares of Vir Biotechnology, a GSK subsidiary which developed the intravenous infusion - marketed as Xevudy - were up by more than 10% in pre-market trading on Wall Street.

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Vir boss George Scangos said: "We are confident that sotrovimab will continue to provide significant benefit for the early treatment of patients hoping to avoid the most severe consequences of Covid-19.”

 (AFP)
(AFP)

Trials against earlier strains of Covid-19 have shown sotrovimab reduced the risk of hospitalisation and death in four fifths (79%) of patients experiencing mild to moderate symptoms.

It was granted authorisation by UK medicines watchdog the MHRA last week for over-12s with mild to moderate symptoms who are at risk of developing serious illness. The UK has ordered around 100,000 doses.

Glaxo has committed to sell 750,000 doses of the drug to governments worldwide, worth an estimated $1.5 billion in sales.

Based on the clinical trial data, sotrovimab is most effective when taken during the early stages of infection: the MHRA recommends its use within five days of symptom onset.

GSK chief scientific officer Hal Barron said: "These pre-clinical data demonstrate the potential for our monoclonal antibody to be effective against the latest variant, Omicron, plus all other variants of concern defined to date.

"We look forward to discussing these results with regulatory authorities around the world."

The drug works by attaching itself to receptors on the outside of the virus which block their ability to attach to and enter cells.

Injected antibodies are expected to play an important role in treating patients whose immune systems do not mount an adequate response to vaccines, and help reduce symptoms in those more susceptible to severe disease.

Dr June Raine, MHRA chief executive, said: “This is yet another therapeutic that has been shown to be effective at protecting those most vulnerable to COVID-19 and signals another significant step forward in our fight against this devastating disease.”

Separately today, GSK reported positive results in phase-3 trials for a plant-based Covid-19 candidate being developed with Canadian biopharma Medicago.

The study showed the shot to be 75% effective against the Delta variant in a test of 24,000 adults in Canada, the United States, United Kingdom, Mexico, Argentina, and Brazil.

Medicago will now seek regulatory approval from Health Canada. The vaccine candidate is not yet approved by any regulatory authority.

Thomas Breuer, GSK's chief global health officer, said, "These are encouraging results.”