FDA-Approved Monoclonal Antibodies Found Effective Against BA.x Variants

A new Correspondence published in peer-review The New England Journal of Medicine examined the neutralizing ability of U.S. FDA-approved monoclonal antibodies, individually and in combination, against recent SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants.

As of July 20, 2022, this data indicates that bebtelovimab is effective against BA.2.12.1, BA.4, and BA.5.

However, in clinical use, these variants may be less susceptible to combination therapy with casirivimab and imdevimab and with Evusheld (tixagevimab and cilgavimab).

In addition, sotrovimab may not provide effective treatment against BA.2.12.1, BA.4, or BA.5.

'Our findings show that the selection of monoclonal antibodies to treat patients infected with omicron variants should be carefully considered.'

'The main limitation of our study is the lack of clinical data on the efficacy of these monoclonal antibodies (mAbs),' concluded these researchers.

Non-industry grants supported this research, and the research team did not disclose conflicts of interest.

On July 1, 2022, the FDA stated, 'Nonclinical data and pharmacokinetic modeling suggest that activity against the currently circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants and subvariants may be retained for six months at drug concentrations achieved following an Evusheld dose of 300 mg of tixagevimab and 300 mg cilgavimab.'

Since September 24, 2021, the U.S. government has distributed about 5.9 million mAbs.

Anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibody breaking news is posted at CoronavirusToday.com/Antibodies.

Note: This information was condensed and curated for mobile readers.