Omicron coronavirus variants, including the highly contagious BA.2 sub-variant, in an independent lab study. The study used a transgenic mouse model to evaluate Evusheld in pre-exposure prophylaxis (prevention) of COVID-19, similar to how Evusheld is used in the clinic.
These are the first in vivo data evaluating Evusheld’s efficacy against the Omicron variants versus previous in vitro neutralising activity assays in cultured cells.
The study has yet to be peer reviewed. The therapy, Evusheld, was tested against the BA.1, BA.1.1, and BA.2 subvariants of Omicron and it was also shown to limit inflammation in the lungs. "The findings further support Evusheld as a potential important option to help protect vulnerable patients such as the immunocompromised who could face poor outcomes if they were to become infected with COVID-19," senior AstraZeneca executive John Perez said.
Additional ‘live’ virus data from Aix-Marseilles University and pseudovirus data from the US Food and Drug Administration also demonstrated that Evusheld neutralises BA.2.4,5 According to the World Health Organization, cases of BA.2 have been identified in 85 countries to date, with prevalence increasing in several parts of the world.