Washington, United States of America:
US biotech firm Regeneron said on Tuesday that its synthetic antibody treatment for COVID-19 may be less effective than the newer version, and plans to conduct trials to determine how much.
“Prior in vitro analysis and structural modeling of individual mutations present in the Omicron variant indicate that the neutralization activity of both vaccine-induced and monoclonal antibody-transmitted immunity, including current Regene-CoV antibodies, may be reduced,” the company said. Is.” a statement.
“Further analyzes are ongoing to confirm and quantify this potential effect using the actual Omicron variant sequence.”
REGEN-COV is currently authorized in the United States as a post-exposure prophylaxis in high-risk individuals, and is pending full approval.
It is based on two lab-made monoclonal antibodies – Y-shaped proteins that bind to the spikes that dot the surface of the coronavirus, preventing the pathogen from invading human cells.
Antibodies called cisarivimab and imdevimab are injected intravenously.
But a very high number of mutations occur on the spike protein of Omicron, which worries health experts.
In late September the World Health Organization recommended Regeneron for the treatment of COVID-19, but only in patients with specific health profiles, such as the elderly or those with weakened immune systems.
,