The UK has taken a significant step in combating COVID-19 by approving a new treatment, Xevudy (sotrovimab), which shows promise against the Omicron variant.
Xevudy is designated for individuals with mild to moderate COVID-19 who are at high risk of developing severe disease. In clinical trials, a single dose of the drug was found to reduce the risk of hospitalization and death by 79% in high-risk adults exhibiting coronavirus symptoms.
According to the UK’s medicines and healthcare products regulatory agency, it is currently too early to determine the exact impact of the Omicron variant on Xevudy’s effectiveness. However, the pharmaceutical firms behind Xevudy, GSK and Vir Biotechnology, have shared preclinical data indicating that sotrovimab retains activity against all tested variants of concern, including key mutations associated with Omicron.
George Scangos, CEO of Vir Biotechnology, stated that the drug \"was deliberately designed with a mutating virus in mind,\" highlighting its potential adaptability to emerging variants.
In related developments, the UK has secured an additional 114 million COVID-19 vaccine doses amid growing concerns over the rapid spread of Omicron. Health Secretary Sajid Javid emphasized that these new deals will \"future-proof the Great British vaccination effort,\" which has already administered over 115 million first, second, and booster shots.
The vaccine purchases include 60 million Moderna doses and 54 million Pfizer-BioNTech shots, planned for delivery in 2022 and 2023. These agreements were in discussions prior to the detection of Omicron in the UK.
Despite these efforts, the World Health Organization has criticized wealthier nations for stockpiling vaccines while many poorer countries continue to struggle with vaccine shortages. Mike Ryan, executive director of the WHO's health emergencies program, pointed out the disparity in vaccine distribution, emphasizing the challenges faced by countries unable to provide even primary vaccinations to their most vulnerable populations.
As the UK braces for a potential surge in Omicron cases, 32 cases have been recorded in England and Scotland, including in major cities such as London, Liverpool, and Nottingham.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
