As the omicron variant threatens to wipe out monoclonal antibodies, the U.S. is saving up one that will still work

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Fri, 2021-12-17 10:59 — mike kraft

As the omicron variant threatens to wipe out monoclonal antibodies, the U.S. is saving up one that will still work Public health officials are debating when to switch over to sotrovimab, a monoclonal antibody treatment that retains efficacy against omicron. Carolyn Y. Johnson Washington Post

With the omicron variant of the coronavirus poised to thwart most covid-19 treatments, U.S. public health officials are stockpiling the one monoclonal antibody that remains effective so that it can be deployed when the variant becomes more prevalent.

FAQ: What to know about the omicron variant of the coronavirus

The decision to pause every-other-week shipments to states of the treatment, sotrovimab, shortly after Thanksgiving is part of a broader strategy to marshal the most effective tools to combat omicron, according to David Kessler, chief scientific officer of the White House covid-19 response team.

Omicron represents an estimated 3 percent of coronavirus cases in the United States, but in some states it is estimated to make up 13 percent of all cases, Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Wednesday. Some hospitals are reporting even more concerning figures: At Houston Methodist, omicron grew from 13 percent of cases to more than 30 percent in four days. In New York, the percent of positive tests doubled in three days — a key sign of accelerating spread. ...

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