GlaxoSmithKline PLC - Brentford, England-based pharmaceutical firm - Alongside partner Vir Biotechnology Inc, continues to build positive test data for Covid-19 treatment sotrovimab in relation to its effectiveness against the Omicron variant. Last week, Glaxo said its investigational monoclonal antibody treatment sotrovimab demonstrated that it retains activity against all Covid-19 variants of concern, including the Omicron's spike protein. On Tuesday, Glaxo says further preclinical results were generated through pseudo-virus testing of the combined known mutations of the Omicron variant, which included the maximum number of changes - 37 mutations - identified to date in the spike protein.
"Sotrovimab is the first monoclonal antibody to report preclinical data demonstrating activity against all tested SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and interest to date, including Omicron, as well as the still prevalent and highly contagious Delta variant," says Vir Chief Executive Officer George Scangos. Sotrovimab is authorised for use against Covid-19 in the US, UK, Japan and elsewhere. It has received a positive recommendation for approval in the EU.
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By Tom Waite; thomaslwaite@alliancenews.com
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