GlaxoSmithKline Says Sotrovimab Antibody Retains Activity Against Omicron
December 02 2021 - 2:55AM
Dow Jones News
By Joe Hoppe
GlaxoSmithKline PLC said Thursday that preclinical data shows
its Sotrovimab antibody retains its effectiveness against key
mutations found in the Omicron coronavirus variant.
The British pharmaceutical major said that the data was created
through pseudo-virus testing of specific individual mutations found
in the variant, and to date Sotrovimab has demonstrated persistent
activity against all tested variants of concern and interest
defined by the World Health Organization.
The company said it was now completing in vitro pseudo-virus
testing to confirm Sotrovimab can neutralize a combination of all
the Omicron mutations, and intends to provide an update by the end
of 2021.
GlazoSmithKline said that the antibody was designed with Vir
Biotechnology Inc. with a mutating virus in mind, and by targeting
a highly conserved region of the spike protein that was less likely
to mutate it hoped to address both the current coronavirus and
future variants.
The antibody is authorized for emergency use in the U.S. and has
received a positive opinion from E.U. bodies. It is also available
in other global markets, including the U.K., Japan, Australia,
Canada, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates.
"Though early, these pre-clinical data support our long-held
view on the potential for Sotrovimab to maintain its activity as
the virus continues to mutate," Chief Scientific Officer Hal Barron
said.
Write to Joe Hoppe at joseph.hoppe@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
December 02, 2021 02:40 ET (07:40 GMT)
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