(Alliance News) - GlaxoSmithKline PLC on Thursday announced that its investigational monoclonal antibody treatment sotrovimab has demonstrated that it retains activity against all Covid-19 variants of concern, particularly the Omicron variant.
Shares in Brentford, England-based pharmaceutical group were up 0.3% at 1,546.20 pence on Thursday in London.
The findings were generated through pseudo-virus testing of specific individual mutations found in Omicron. GSK, alongside collaboration partner Vir Biotechnology, are now completing in vitro pseudo-virus testing to confirm the results.
The group expects to post an update from the in vitro testing by the end of 2021.
Sotrovimab works by binding to the spike protein on the outside of the Covid-19 virus. This in turn prevents the virus from attaching to and entering human cells, so that it cannot replicate in the body.
"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. We are pleased that this treatment option is available to patients in the US and many other countries, and are working to expand access worldwide," said Chief Scientific Officer Hal Barron.
Also on Thursday, the UK Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said it has authorised sotrovimab for the treating people with mild to moderate Covid-19 who are at high risk of developing severe disease.
This is the second monoclonal antibody therapeutic to be approved following Ronapreve in August, an antibody cocktail developed by Roche Holdings AG and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.
The regulator noted that it was too early to know whether the Omicron variant will have an effect on sotrovimab's effectiveness, but the MHRA said it will work with Glaxo on this.
"I am pleased to say that we now have another safe and effective Covid-19 treatment, sotrovimab, for those at risk of developing severe illness. 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," said MHRA Chief Executive June Raine.
By Dayo Laniyan; dayolaniyan@alliancenews.com
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Glaxosmithkline (GSK)