LONDON: The initial signs show that the omicron variant of Covid-19 is more contagious than the Delta variant which is currently dominant in the UK, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the cabinet ministers on Tuesday.
Johnson Number 10 Downing Downing Spokesperson told reporters in the cabinet meeting account that Johnson reaffirmed was still too early to draw conclusions on the broad impact of the new variant, which would depend on whether it caused severe illness.
Johnson’s comments came as England recorded 101 omicron cases on Tuesday, took the total for the first variant detected in South Africa to 437.
“The prime minister said it was too early to draw conclusions on omicron characteristics but the initial indication was that it was more contagious than Delta, “The spokesman said.
Meanwhile, the British drug maker GSK announced that Covid-19-based antibody therapy with US VIR Biotechnology partners, which was approved by drugs and the Health Product Regulatory Agency (MHRA) earlier this month, was effective against all Omicron variants mutations.
Unpublished data shows that the treatment of effective Sotrovimab companies to all 37 mutations identified to date in a surge protein, GSK said in a statement.
“From the beginning of our collaboration with VIV, we hypothesized that Sotrovimab will have a high barrier for resistance and thus can provide the best potential in the class for the initial treatment of patients with Covid-19,” said Dr.
Barron, Scientific Chief, Head of Officer and President R & D, GSK.
“This pre-clinical data shows the potential of our monoclonal antibodies to be effective against the latest variants, Omicron, plus all other variants of the concerns defined to the present by WHO, and we hope to discuss this result with supervisory authorities throughout the world.” He was said.
Preclinical data is produced through pseudo-virus testing on the combined mutation of the Omicron variant, which includes the amount of maximum change, or 37 mutations, which is identified to date in a surge protein.
“Sotrovimab is the first monoclonal antibody to report preclinical activities showing activity against all variants tested by SARS-COV-2 interested and interested to date, including Omicron, and Delta variants that are still common and very contagious,” said George Scangos, Chair VIR executive officer.
Sotrovimab is for people with Covid-19 light to moderately at high risk of severe disease.
These are single monoclonal antibodies and drugs work by binding surge in the outer part of the Covid-19 virus.
Treatment was given by intravenous infusion for 30 minutes and was approved for individuals aged 12 years and over who weighed more than 40kg.
MHRA has authorized new therapy for use in the UK in people who have covid-19 infections lightly to moderate and at least one risk factor to develop severe diseases.
These risk factors include obesity, older age groups at 60 and above, diabetes mellitus, or heart disease.