Data Suggest Sotrovimab Retains Neutralizing Activity Against Omicron Subvariant BA.2

– Pseudovirus results being shared with government and regulatory authorities;
publication in bioRxiv anticipated in the coming week; additional live virus testing underway –

Excerpt from the Press Release:

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 09, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Vir Biotechnology, Inc. (Nasdaq: VIR) today announced that preclinical data suggest that sotrovimab, an investigational monoclonal antibody authorized for emergency use in the United States and developed in conjunction with GlaxoSmithKline, retains neutralizing activity against the BA.2 subvariant of Omicron. These pseudovirus results are being shared with government and regulatory authorities around the world and the Company expects to publish data on bioRxiv in the coming week, with live virus data to follow.

“Our view of the data is that they support the ongoing role of sotrovimab as a critical treatment in the fight against the continuously evolving SARS-CoV-2 virus,” said George Scangos, Vir’s chief executive officer. “We note recent conclusions from another lab, which state that no approved or authorized monoclonal antibodies for treatment retain activity against all subvariants of Omicron. We are therefore pleased to share that, based on our pseudovirus and extensive pharmacokinetic data, we believe that the 500 mg dose of sotrovimab is sufficient to retain activity against the BA.2 variant, just as it has against all other variants of concern and interest.”

About sotrovimab
Sotrovimab is an investigational SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing monoclonal antibody. The antibody binds to an epitope on SARS-CoV-2 shared with SARS-CoV-1 (the virus that causes SARS), indicating that the epitope is highly conserved, which may make it more difficult for resistance to develop. Sotrovimab, which incorporates Xencor, Inc.’s Xtend™ technology, has also been designed to achieve high concentration in the lungs to ensure optimal penetration into airway tissues affected by SARS-CoV-2 and to have an extended half-life.

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