There are not many treatments for Covid-19: at present, the number one hope is monoclonal antibodies. Given early enough to patients infected with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, monoclonal antibodies prevent the worsening of symptoms; they are particularly indicated for patients who present an increased risk of a severe form of Covid-19 (immunocompromised patients, transplant patients, etc.).
Yes, but here it is: the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus (which is on the rise in France) has reshuffled the cards. This Friday, December 24, 2021, theANRS research agency/Emerging infectious diseases thus announced that Ronapreve (casirivimab-imdevimab) has “more significant activity against the Omicron variant“.
Some monoclonal antibodies retain a largely reduced effectiveness…
Same conclusion for two other monoclonal antibody treatments: Regdanvimab (from the Celltrion laboratory) and Bamlanivimab/Etesevimab (from the Lilly laboratory) “no longer have significant activity against the Omicron variant“.
Good news anyway: according to the ANRS, Xevudy (Sotrovimab) and Evusheld (Tixagevimab and Cilgavimab) “retain neutralizing activity” against the Omicron variant, with only one “decreased activity (…) moderate“.
According to experts, these treatments would be (respectively) 4 times less and 13 times less effective against Omicron than against other variants of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. These two treatments are authorized in France: they are prescribed in particular for the prevention of severe forms of Covid-19 in immunocompromised patients.
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