The emergence of omicron in recent weeks has set off a chain reaction among COVID-19 drug and vaccine makers, which are now conducting laboratory studies evaluating how well their therapies and shots work against omicron.
Vir Biotechnology Inc. and GlaxoSmithKline PLC’s COVID-19 antibody treatment worked against omicron in a laboratory study, marking the latest announcement indicating that the research race to combat the new variant is underway.
Vir’s VIR, +11.96% stock gained 4.2% in trading on Tuesday, while shares of GlaxoSmithKline GSK, +1.48% were up 0.4%. The other makers of monoclonal antibodies have also said they are trying to see if their therapies will work against the new variant. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. REGN, +1.61% executives last week told analysts that they expect their treatment “to be potent against omicron,” with more data expected in the coming weeks. Eli Lilly & Co. Inc. LLY, -0.50% said Dec. 3 that it is assessing the “neutralization activity of our therapies on the omicron variant of concern.
Europeans will now have the choice to “mix and match” their COVID-19 vaccines, following a new recommendation from the European Medicines Agency and the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control. The agencies said Tuesday that getting a viral vector vaccine and then a mRNA shot produces “good levels of antibodies” as well as a “higher T-cell response” whether the mixing occurs in the primary series or with a booster.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Runny-nosed hippos test positive for Covid-19 in BelgiumTwo hippos at a zoo in Antwerp, Belgium, have tested positive for Covid-19, in what is believed to be the first such infection reported in the species.
Read more »
Milk Makeup and Shiseido CEOs Discuss Leadership and the Future of Work Amid COVID-19Flexibility and trust are key, shared both Tim Coolican, chief executive officer of Milk Makeup, and Ron Gee, president, chief executive officer and global M&A leader at Shiseido Americas and Shiseido Group.
Read more »
Small-Cap Stocks Hit Hard by Covid-19 Omicron VariantThe Russell 2000 benchmark has dropped 7.4% since Thanksgiving, when the fast-spreading new variant made headlines. Last week, the index fell into a correction, declining more than 10% from its November record.
Read more »
Cruise ship with COVID-19 infections arrives in New OrleansA Norwegian Cruise Line ship with at least 10 passengers and crew members infected with COVID-19 has docked in New Orleans
Read more »
COVID-19 Live Updates: Omicron cases in U.S. 'likely to rise', CDC warnsThe CDC is warning that Omicron cases are 'likely to rise' across the U.S. as the variant spreads to over a dozen states and over 40 countries. Follow Newsweek's liveblog for all the latest.
Read more »