Sotrovimab, sold under the brand name Xevudy, is a human neutralizing monoclonal antibody with activity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, known as SARS-CoV-2. It is under development by GlaxoSmithKline and Vir Biotechnology, Inc. Sotrovimab is designed to attach to the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2.The most common side effects include hypersensitivity (allergic) reactions and infusion-related reactions. Medical uses
In the European Union, sotrovimab is indicated for the treatment of COVID-19 in people aged twelve years of age and older and weighing at least 40 kilograms (88 lb) who do not require supplemental oxygen and who are at increased risk of the disease becoming severe.Sotrovimab is given by intravenous infusion, preferably within 5 days of onset of COVID-19 symptoms. Development and mechanism of action
Sotrovimabs development began in December 2019, at Vir Biotechnology when Vir scientists first learned of the initial COVID-19 outbreak in China. Vir subsidiary Humabs BioMed had already compiled a library of frozen blood samples from patients infected with viral diseases, including two samples from patients infected with SARS-CoV-1. Vir scientists obtained samples of the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus and mixed them with various antibodies recovered from the old SARS-CoV-1 blood samples. The objective was to identify antibodies effective against both SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2. This would imply that the antibodies were targeting highly conserved sequences and in turn would be more likely to remain effective against future variants of SARS-CoV-2.
Research
Sotrovimab is being evaluated in the following clinical trials:
Clinical trial number NCT04545060 for "COMET-ICE" at ClinicalTrials.gov
Clinical trial number NCT04779879 for "COMET-PEAK" at ClinicalTrials.gov
Clinical trial number NCT04501978 for "ACTIV-3-TICO" at ClinicalTrials.gov
Clinical trial number NCT04634409 for "BLAZE-4" at ClinicalTrials.govIn March 2022, Australian virologists observed that sotrovimab may cause a drug-resistant mutation. References
External links
"Sotrovimab". Drug Information Portal. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Clinical trial number NCT04545060 for "VIR-7831 for the Early Treatment of COVID-19 in Outpatients (COMET-ICE)" at ClinicalTrials.gov
Australian Public Assessment Report: Sotrovimab. Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) (Report). 20 August 2021.