Health Canada warns against use of Sotrovimab in BA.2 COVID-19 patients
Posted April 15, 2022 8:39 pm.
Health Canada is warning health care providers to limit the use of one COVID-19 treatment in patients who test positive for one of the latest Omicron subvariants.
The health agency says Sotrovimab, a monoclonal antibody treatment manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, is unlikely to maintain efficacy against the Omicron BA.2 subvariant.
However, the treatment is still considered effective against earlier COVID subvariants.
“Current data indicates that sotrovimab continues to be effective against the Omicron BA.1 and BA.1.1 subvariants,” Health Canada said in a recall and safety alert issued Thursday. “Local epidemiology and individual exposure to variants should be taken into consideration before use of sotrovimab.”
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Sotrovimab was approved for use in the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 patients in July 2021. It is not authorized for use in patients who are hospitalized as a result of COVID-19 or those who require oxygen therapy.
The Ontario Science Table put Sotrovimab on its list of therapies not recommended for the treatment of COVID-19 back on April 1.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration also pulled its authorization of the drug at the beginning of April for the same reason.
