‘Omicron resistant to antibodies, two vaccine doses’

A technician takes a nasal swab from a motorist at a Covid-19 testing site in Denver, on Thursday

The Omicron variant of coronavirus is largely resistant to antibodies from people who recover from Covid-19 infection, and those vaccinated with two doses of the Pfizer vaccine, according to a study. The research, published in the journal Cell, also shows that several antibodies used to treat Covid-19 will be ineffective against Omicron. However, a third dose of the Pfizer vaccine, and mixing Pfizer and AstraZeneca preventives may protect well against the variant. The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 appears to be spreading faster than any previous variant and may soon dominate globally, the researchers said.

A person waits to get tested for COVID-19 at a testing site in Times Square subway station on Thursday in New York. Pics/AP

Currently, combinations of the antibodies Casirivimab and Imdevimab, and Etesevimab and Bamlanivimab are used to treat Covid-19. However, the researchers showed these antibodies are largely ineffective against the Omicron spike. Only one antibody, Sotrovimab, inhibited the Omicron spikes, they said.

"Our cell culture studies suggest that most antibodies currently available for Covid-19 therapy will be ineffective against Omicron," said study first author Markus Hoffmann from German Primate Centre. "Sotrovimab is an exception and could become an important treatment option for Omicron-infected patients," Hoffmann said.

Antibodies produced after two immunisations with the Pfizer vaccine also inhibited the Omicron spike significantly less efficiently than the spike proteins of other variants, the researchers said. A better protective effect was observed after three doses with Pfizer and after heterologous immunisation with AstraZeneca and Pfizer preventives, they said.

A man receives his fourth dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at the Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, Israel on Friday. Pic/AFP

These results indicate dual immunisation with Pfizer may protect less efficiently against Omicron compared to Delta variant, the study said. Triple immunisation with Pfizer (booster) and cross-vaccination with AstraZeneca/Pfizer could establish stronger protection, it found.

SAfrica's Omicron peak has passed

A study found South Africa may have passed the peak of the omicron-fuelled surge in the fourth wave of Covid-19 infections with data suggesting the variant has not caused a corresponding jump in hospitalizations and deaths, the Hill reported.

Virus delays UN nuke treaty meet

The coronavirus surge has upended plans to hold a major nuclear treaty conference at the United Nations, with participants agreeing Thursday to postpone the meeting just days before its scheduled start. After nearly two years of pandemic delays, delegations from around the world had been scheduled due to converge on U.N. headquarters Tuesday to take stock of the 1970 Non-Proliferation Treaty, a pillar of nuclear arms control. But organisers are now penciling in an August 1 start date, according to an email Thursday from the U.N. disarmament office to entities involved.

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No. of Omicron cases in India

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