Amidst rising concerns about the Omicron variant with close to 77 countries reporting infections, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals has announced that its COVID-19 antibody therapy is less effective against the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, though it is still active against the Delta.
The omicron variant is said to have undergone a large number of mutations, which makes the variant more transmissible and can evade protection provided by COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics.
Earlier this week, German researchers found that COVID-19 therapies developed by Eli Lilly and Regeneron lose most of their effectiveness when exposed in laboratory tests to the Omicron, reported CNA.
The company had previously suggested according to lab tests and computer modelling, REGEN-COV, the antibody drug would have reduced efficacy against Omicron.
The drugmaker further added that REGEN-COV showed diminished potency against Omicron, it is still active against Delta, which currently is the most prevalent variant in the United States.
REGEN-COV is currently allowed for use in the US to treat people with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 and for prevention of infection in those exposed to infected individuals, and others at high risk of exposure in settings such as nursing homes or prisons.