AstraZeneca: New study shows anti-body drug effective vs. Omicron variants

Drug firm AstraZeneca reported good results from the latest trial of its COVID-19 antibody medication against the Omicron variant.

The firm cited a new study from the Washington University School of Medicine which showed AZD7442 maintained the effective resistance against Omicron variant, including its sub-variants BA.1, BA.1.1 and BA.2.1.

It also showed that AZD7442 reduced the viral burden and inflammation of the lungs caused by the three sub-variants of Omicron.

The US Food and Drug Administration earlier authorized the use of AstraZeneca's antibody cocktail to prevent COVID-19 infections in individuals with weak immune systems or a history of severe side effects from coronavirus vaccines.

The authorization for the medication, made up of two monoclonal antibodies tixagevimab and cilgavimab, marked a significant step for AstraZeneca.

The preventive drug has yet to be registered with the Philippines' Food and Drug Administration.

“The findings demonstrate that AZD7442 was effective at protecting against infection  in the lungs, a critical disease site for severe COVID-19, across all Omicron subvariants tested,” Michael Diamond, professor of Departments of  Medicine, Molecular Microbiology, Pathology & Immunology in Washington University, said.

John Perez, senior vice president, Head of Late Development, Vaccines & Immune  Therapies of AstraZeneca, said the data showed that AZD7442 reduced viral burden and limited  inflammation caused by Omicron.

“The findings further support AZD7442 as a potential important option to help protect vulnerable patients such as the immunocompromised who could face poor outcomes if  they were to become infected with COVID-19,” he added.

The US national public health agency said on Monday the BA.2 sub-variant of Omicron was estimated to account for nearly three of every four coronavirus variants in the country.

The drug firm said AZD7442 is authorized to be use as pre-exposure prophylaxis of COVID 19 in the US and several other countries.

It is intended for patients with medical conditions, recipients of immunosuppressive drugs, individuals who are not recommended to be vaccinated against COVID-19, and in patients with limited ability of the body to develop an adequate immune response against COVID.

Meanwhile, Britain's medicines regulator has approved AstraZeneca's antibody-based COVID-19 treatment for adults with poor immune response, marking a major step in the fight against the pandemic as infections surge globally amid spread of the Omicron variant. —Richa Noriega/NB, GMA News