AstraZeneca’s Evusheld (tixagevimab and cilgavimab, formerly AZD7442) retains neutralisation activity against the emerging Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 (BA.4/5) variants, says preclinical pseudovirus assay data from the University of Oxford. 

 

The findings were reported online on bioRxiv, a preprint server. 

 

These results are consistent with previous data from multiple studies showing that Evusheld retains potent neutralising activity against Omicron BA.2, the current dominant circulating variant, and neutralises all variants tested to date. 

 

Previously circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants have expanded in similar patterns; therefore it’s possible BA.4 and BA.5, which are now the dominant variants in Africa, could spread globally in a similar pattern to BA.2.6 BA.4 and BA.5 have identical S protein sequences and appear to have evolved from BA.2. 

 

Remaining potent

John L Perez, MD, MBA, MA, Senior Vice President, Head of Late Development, Vaccines & Immune Therapies, AstraZeneca, said: “By combining two antibodies with different and complementary activities against SARS-CoV-2, Evusheld was engineered from the start to outsmart the Covid-19 virus and to remain potent in the face of this virus’ ability to rapidly mutate. 

 

“These findings further support Evusheld as an important option to help protect vulnerable populations such as the immunocompromised who are unable to respond adequately to Covid-19 vaccination and are at high risk for severe disease.” 

 

Approximately 2% of the global population is considered at increased risk of an inadequate response to Covid-19 vaccination and may particularly benefit from pre-exposure prophylaxis (prevention) with Evusheld.

 

Immunocompromised

This population includes people who are immunocompromised, such as cancer patients, transplant patients and anyone taking immunosuppressive medicines. People at increased risk of exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 virus could also benefit from protection with Evusheld. 

 

Emerging evidence indicates that protecting vulnerable populations from getting Covid-19 could help prevent viral evolution that is an important factor in the emergence of variants.-- TradeArabia News Service