The agency is waiting on more data but said it “does not anticipate that Evusheld will neutralize XBB.1.5.” The FDA released a similar statement in October when subvariants BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 were dominant, but its emergency use authorization remained while other COVID-19 treatments, such as Eli Lilly’s bebtelovimab, were pulled.
AstraZeneca’s monoclonal is made up of two antibodies, and it is a preventive treatment administered every six months, according to the CDC.
Here is the reduction in susceptibility against some of the most dominant omicron subvariants, according to the FDA and CDC:
- BQ.1.1 (34.4 percent of cases) — not determined
- XBB (27.6 percent) — not determined
- BQ.1 (21.4 percent) — not determined
- BA.5 (3.7 percent) — 2.8- to 16-fold
- BN.1 (3 percent) — not determined
- BF.7 (2.2 percent) — not determined
- BA.2.75 (1.3 percent) — not determined
As the FDA awaits more information on Evusheld’s efficacy, it advised providers to “inform individuals of the increased risk, compared to other variants, for COVID-19 due to SARS-CoV-2 variants not neutralized by Evusheld.”
Becker’s 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit is the top tier event that the people leading the future of pharmacy convene. This 3-day event is built specifically for Chief Pharmacy Officers and senior pharmacy leaders. The sessions examine the workforce, financial and clinical priorities shaping pharmacy today. Becker’s is where candid discussions flourish and new ideas thrive. Becker's 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit
