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TRIGGER WARNING: What will Omicron mean for antibody treatments?
Vaccine makers have thus far been hesitant to tweak existing coronavirus jabs due to fears it could become a game of whack-a-mole, but a super strain may change that sentiment. Testing involving Omicron is already underway among the big manufacturers, with several saying it would take about two weeks to establish whether the new variant renders their shots less effective. On Friday, South Africa's health minister said he expects current jabs to still offer protection against severe illness and death from Omicron, though they might be less effective at preventing infections and milder disease.
In case it doesn't: $Pfizer (PFE.US)$ and partner $BioNTech (BNTX.US)$ said they would be able to adapt their vaccines within six weeks, and ship initial batches within 100 days in the event of an escape variant. Moderna can meanwhile get a new construct into human trials in less than 60 days, though manufacturing would take a few months. Any new candidates would also need to clear the regulatory process, getting a green light from the Food and Drug Administration.
In terms of therapeutics, Pfizer's Paxlovid and $Merck & Co (MRK.US)$ molnupiravir are expected to target parts of the virus that are not changed in Omicron, and could be all the more important if vaccine-induced and natural immunity are threatened. Both drugmakers have licensed their antiviral pills to other manufacturers, so they should be widely available if needed. The Biden administration has even ordered 13M courses of the two drugs after seeing significant success in trials at preventing severe illness in high-risk groups.
Outlook: Regarding manufactured antibodies, Omicron's mutations are likely to render some treatments ineffective, according to Dr. David Ho, professor of microbiology and immunology at Columbia University. Investors are particularly worried about antibody drugs from $Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (REGN.US)$ and $Eli Lilly and Co (LLY.US)$, but some think $Vir Biotechnology (VIR.US)$ and $AstraZeneca (AZN.US)$ could hold up better against this variant due to the way the antibodies are constructed to target the spike proteins. The new variant might also dull the impact of monoclonal antibody treatment because of those same mutations, said Dr. Wendy Barclay, head of the G2P-UK National Virology Consortium.
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Revana : Bugger all.
Omicron is more transmissable, but less virulent.
HK IPO Radar : I think VIR can be the next Moderna especially with a cheap price. GSK and Vir will benefit from the anti body vaccine they just completed.
Dogoro777 : The vaccines should protect against serious illness.
More concerning are low vaccination rates perpetuating the virus and allowing it to mutate more variants.
Cake_WU : My cousin who I love and respect is required to get vaccinated for her job where she has been for 20 years, but refuses. She is Catholic and is attempting to get a religious exemption from the vaccine.
This is complete nonsense. In what way does a vaccine conflict with Catholic beliefs? People need to stop freaking out.
James Wade Cake_WU : Fetal tissue is used in the manufacture of these mRNA "Vaccines".
fly up high James Wade : That's not accurate. No new fetal tissue is being used. Some of the research used a very old line of existing molecules that drew once upon a time on some fetal tissue. BTW there is a JNJ vaccine.
Hotbuns : it's the flu
Muriel Melber Hotbuns : Andromeda Strain has mutated into an extremely mild cold.
Stop the world!