GlaxoSmithKline GSK and Vir Biotechnology VIR announced pre-clinical data, which demonstrated that their COVID-19 therapy, sotrovimab, maintains activity against key mutations in the spike protein of the new variant of concern, Omicron. The antibody candidate has shown activity against several deadly mutants of coronavirus including Delta, Delta plus and Mu in clinical studies. Amid rising concerns of an Omicron outbreak, the encouraging pre-clinical data against the variant supports its strong potential as an enduring COVID-19 treatment option going forward. Pre-clinical data included results of testing of sotrovimab against pseudo-viruses with each containing a specific individual mutation found in the Omicron variant. Glaxo and Vir Biotechnology are currently conducting an in-vitro test of their antibody drug against all mutations found in the Omicron variant in a single pseudo-virus. Data from this test will demonstrate the neutralizing ability of sotrovimab against a combination of the Omicron mutations. An update on the data from this in-vitro study is expected by the end of 2021. The companies stated that sotrovimab targets a specific portion of the coronavirus, which makes it more difficult for the variants to develop resistance against the candidate. We note that Glaxo and Vir Biotechnology’s sotrovimab, as an intravenous administration, was granted emergency use authorization (“EUA”) for treating mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adult and pediatric patients in May. The intravenous drug is available under the tradename of Xevudy. The approval was based on data from a late-stage study that demonstrated that treatment with sotrovimab achieved 79% reduction in risk of hospitalization or death. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/glaxo-gsk-vir-covid-drug-142302146.html
Glaxo Antibody Treatment Works on Omicron Mutations in Study GlaxoSmithKline Plc said research shows its Covid-19 antibody treatment is effective against the full combination of mutations in the new omicron variant. Tests done in-vitro against a pseudo-virus that recreates a synthesized version of omicron showed that sotrovimab, Glaxo’s antibody treatment, stands up to all mutations in the spike protein of the omicron variant and not just the key mutations, the drugmaker said in a statement Tuesday. The tests included all 37 mutations identified to-date in the spike protein. GSK Covid Antibody Treatment Sotrovimab Works on Omicron Mutations, Study Shows - Bloomberg
Issued: London UK and San Francisco, US GlaxoSmithKline plc (LSE/NYSE: GSK) and Vir Biotechnology, Inc. (Nasdaq: VIR) today announced that the European Commission (EC) has granted marketing authorisation to Xevudy (sotrovimab) for the early treatment of COVID-19. Sotrovimab is now approved in the European Union (EU) for the treatment of adults and adolescents (aged 12 years and over and weighing at least 40kg) with COVID-19 who do not require supplemental oxygen and who are at increased risk of progressing to severe COVID-19. The grant of the marketing authorisation in the EU is a result of the positive opinion issued on 16 December by the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Human Medicinal Products (CHMP). In July 2021, GSK and Vir announced a Joint Procurement Agreement (JPA) with the EC to supply up to 220,000 doses of sotrovimab. Following the grant of the marketing authorisation in the EU, Member States participating in the JPA can now order sotrovimab to support their pandemic responses. Xevudy (sotrovimab) granted marketing authorisation by the European Commission for the early treatment of COVID-19 | GSK
GSK Rejected $68 Billion Unilever Bid for Consumer Ops: Times GlaxoSmithKline PLC rejected an unsolicited offer from Unilever PLC valuing its consumer goods business at about 50 billion pounds ($68.4 billion), the Times reported on Saturday, without saying how it obtained the information. Unilever made the offer for Glaxo’s household brands unit in late 2021 but Glaxo’s board and Pfizer Inc., which owns a minority stake in the business, rejected the offer as too low, the newspaper said. Glaxo hired former Tesco Plc chief executive Dave Lewis in December to lead a spin-off and listing of its consumer goods arm this year. The unit, which owns brands including Advil painkillers and Sensodyne toothpaste, will seek a London Stock Exchange listing. Glaxo previously had interest from Advent International, CVC Capital Partners and KKR & Co for the business, even as it had been preparing for the listing last fall. It remains unclear if Unilever will raise its offer or if talks between the companies are currently taking place, the newspaper reported. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/gsk-rejected-68-billion-unilever-094418865.html
