AstraZeneca: ‘We are examining the resistance of the new mutation to the vaccine’

AstraZeneca said on Friday it hoped its anti-covid-19 antibody cocktail would retain its effectiveness against the new mutation spreading in South Africa and was testing whether the variant was resistant to its vaccine.

“As with any new mutation, we are looking at strain B.1.1.529 to find out more about it and its vaccine resistance,” AstraZeneca said in a statement, adding that it was conducting research in Botswana and Eswatini to collect data.

“We are also testing the combination of AZD7442 long-acting antibodies against this new mutation and hope that AZD7442 will retain its efficacy, as it contains two potent antibodies with different and complementary activities against the virus,” the statement said.