MHLW (Japan) in its COVID-care guide cites reduced efficiency of Xevudy against BA 2 Omicron sub-variant
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) (Japan) has updated its COVID-19 care guide, citing the reduced efficacy of GlaxoSmithKline’s antibody drug Xevudy (sotrovimab) reported against the BA.2 Omicron subvariant, which has now become a dominant strain in Japan.
For Xevudy, the 7.2 edition of the guide newly states that there have been reports that the drug’s “efficacy is likely to be reduced against the BA.2 sublineage of the Omicron strain” and physicians are being urged to “consider its administration only when other treatments cannot be used.” “When other treatments cannot be used” means “when other treatments are contraindicated or subject to careful administration, among other cases,” according to the guide.
The COVID guide noted that the BA.2 strain is now rapidly spreading, calling on healthcare professionals to refer to publicly available epidemiological information in using Xevudy.
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