Some of the most effective treatments against COVID-19 in America's arsenal may not be as effective against the Omicron variant, a worrying sign as the new strain slowly begins to make up more cases in the U.S.
A German research team found that monoclonal antibody treatments developed by Eli Lilly and Regeneron - which are both used to treat Covid patients across the U.S. - are less effective against the Omicron variant as it is against other strains of the virus.
The treatments are among the most effective America has for a person that has been infected by the virus already, and have been widely heralded by some political figures like former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov Ron DeSantis.
The list of Covid treatments and prevention measures that are less effective against the highly mutated virus strain that was discovered last month by South African health officials is only growing, with the Covid vaccines and other antiviral treatments believed to lose some effectiveness.
Data on the antibody treatments has also been revealed as the nation suffers an increase in Omicron cases, with the variant now accounting for around three percent of new cases.
Eli Lilly's monoclonal antibody drugs bamlanivimab with etesevimab are not very effective against the Omicron COVID-19 variant. REGN10933 and REGN10987, the monoclonal antibody drugs developed by Regeneron, weer also found to be not as effective against the strain. A drug developed by GlaxoSmithKline and Vir Biotechnology was found to be less effective, but still does work, against Omicron.
Eli Lilly told Reuters the drug is less effective due to the many mutations the Omicron variant has on its spike protein (file photo)
'The neutralizing activity of several monoclonal antibodies is strongly affected against the Omicron variant and will limit treatment options for Omicron-induced COVID-19,' researchers wrote in a study that is still pending peer review.
Researchers tested the ability of different monoclonal antibody treatments to neutralize multiple strains of the virus.
They found that neither bamlanivimab or etesevimab - a duo of drugs developed by Eli Lilly used together in monoclonal antibody treatment - are effective against the Omicron variant.
'Due to the substitutions contained within the spike protein of the Omicron variant of concern, it appears that bamlanivimab with
