GSK; examinations indicate antibody drug effective against Omicron

GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK) announced on Thursday that a lab examination of the COVID-19 antibody-based medicine it is developing with Vir in the United States has revealed that the drug is effective against the novel Omicron strain.

The British drugmaker stated in a statement that lab testing and a hamster trial showed the sotrovimab antibody cocktail worked against viruses that were bio-engineered to possess a variety of Omicron variant signature mutations.

The tests are still being carried out to check the results against all of the Omicron mutations, with an update due by the end of the year, according to the statement.

Separately, the British Medicines Agency approved sotrovimab, commonly known as Xevudy, for persons with mild to moderate COVID-19 who are at high risk of developing severe disease, on Thursday.

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) advised using Xevudy as soon as possible after the onset of symptoms, preferably within five days.

Story by : Norvisi Mawunyegah