Sotrovimab shown TO CAUSE COVID-19 treatment-resistant MUTATIONS

… has reported genetic changes in the virus that causes COVID-19

… associated with the development of resistance to Sotrovimab, in patients given the drug

… it is one of the few human-engineered monoclonal antibodies that can target Omicron, in addition to being used for other variants such as Delta

… Sotrovimab neutralises SARS-CoV-2 predominantly by blocking entry of the virus into the host cell

… binding to a particular region of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein

… The world-first observational study published today in New England Journal of Medicine

… Post-treatment follow-up was required in 23 patients

… four of these patients developing resistant mutations

… The data showed persistence of viable SARS-CoV-2 in patients after Sotrovimab infusions

… and the rapid development of spike gene mutations associated with high-level Sotrovimab resistance in vitro

… potential for resistant viruses to spread

… “We discovered that the virus that causes COVID-19 can develop mutations within the patient several days after Sotrovimab treatment

… which reduces the effectiveness of this treatment by greater than 100-fold,”

… the virus persisted in patients for up to 24 days after Sotrovimab treatment

… “Resistant virus samples could be readily grown in the laboratory

… a marker that individuals who develop resistance may transmit the resistance virus to others,”

… sequenced the SARS-CoV-2 genome before patients were given the drug

… and then followed them through the course of the infection and could detect when the resistance mutations, in the virus genome, become dominant

… “The rapid increase in the use of monoclonal antibodies to treat COVID-19 requires a similar increase in the surveillance for potential resistance mutations”

              New England Journal of Medicine