GSK-Vir drug works against Omicron - data

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GlaxoSmithKline's COVID-19 therapy works against all mutations of the new Omicron variant.

That's according to the UK firm on Tuesday (December 7), when it cited data from early-stage studies.

The British drugmaker has developed the antibody-based drug sotrovimab with U.S. partner Vir Biotechnology.

Tuesday's announcement comes a week after GSK said pre-clinical data also showed the drug had worked against Omicron.

Sotrovimab is designed to stick to the spike protein on the surface of the virus.

Omicron has been found to have an unusually high number of mutations on that protein.

But GSK said its data showed the new treatment was effective against all 37 mutations identified to date.

Company Chief Scientific Officer Hal Barron said the therapy is also effective against all other variants of concern.