Activity of Sotrovimab against BQ.1.1 and XBB.1 Omicron sublineages in a hamster model

The successive emergence of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants has completely changed the modalities of use of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies. Recent in vitro studies indicated that only Sotrovimab has maintained partial activity against BQ.1.1 and XBB.1. In the present study, we used the hamster model to determine whether Sotrovimab retains antiviral activity against these Omicron variants in vivo. Our results show that at exposures consistent with those observed in humans, Sotrovimab remains active against BQ.1.1 and XBB.1, although for BQ.1.1 the efficacy is lower than that observed against the first globally dominant Omicron sublineages BA.1 and BA.2.

Automated summary

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants has changed the use of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies. In vitro studies showed that only Sotrovimab has partial activity against BQ.1.1 and XBB.1. In a hamster model study, it was found that Sotrovimab remains active against BQ.1.1 and XBB.1 at human exposure levels, but with lower efficacy against BQ.1.1 compared to the globally dominant Omicron sublineages BA.1 and BA.2.