Infectious diseases experts are warning that almost all available antiviral medications are increasingly ineffective against the “soup” of Omicron descendants now circulating in Australia.
It has escalated the urgency for advancements in the medications needed to protect those most vulnerable to severe disease and death from COVID-19.
New research undertaken by the Kirby Institute found Evusheld was ineffective against all variants tested, while Sotrovimab still provided some protection against most of the variants in circulation, but at a lower level of effectiveness than earlier coronavirus variants. He said the research showed how important it was for Australia to focus on advancing antiviral treatments for those most at risk of severe disease.
“To be most effective, antiviral medication should be given as soon as possible after symptoms from COVID,” Short said. “So we need a better way of diagnosing people earlier in the infection.”
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