U.S. FDA states that Evusheld may not be effective against Omicron subvariant. XBB.

(Reuters) – Friday’s statement by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration indicated that it doesn’t expect AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 antigen cocktail Evusheld, to protect against Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5.

Scientists have been concerned about the subvariant since its rapid spread in December in the United States.

Although the agency awaits additional data to verify the effectiveness of Evusheld against XBB.1.5 it stated it does not anticipate the drug neutralizing the subvariant, citing similarities to other Omicron Subvariants that Evusheld does NOT work against.

XBB.1.5, another descendant from Omicron, is an offshoot XBB first discovered in October. It is also a recombinant for two other Omicron subvariants.

According to the agency, it was closely watching the emergence and spread of the XBB.1.5 variant. This subvariant accounted for 27.6% COVID-19 cases in the United States during the week ended Jan. 7.

Evusheld was authorized for the first time in late 2021 by the United States to prevent COVID-19 infection in people with weak immune systems and those who have suffered from severe side effects of coronavirus vaccines.

(Reporting done by Bhanvi Satija, Bengaluru; Editing done by Krishna Chandra Eluri