A group at the University of Tokyo and other groups investigated the effects of therapeutic drugs against BA.2.75, one of the Omicron strains of the new coronavirus, in cell experiments, and found that multiple therapeutic drugs approved in Japan are sufficiently effective. announced that it has been confirmed.
A group led by Project Professor Yoshihiro Kawaoka of the Institute of Medical Science, the University of Tokyo, published the results of a study analyzing the effects of therapeutic drugs on BA.2.75 in the medical journal "New England Journal of Medicine."
The group infected the cultured cells with the Omicron strain "BA.2.75" and investigated whether the components of various therapeutic agents could suppress the action of the virus.
As a result, regarding the components of the three types of antiviral drugs approved in Japan, ``remdesivir'', ``Lagebrio'' (generic name: molnupiravir), and ``pakilobid'' (generic name: nilmatrelvir/ritonavir), It means that the same effect as the conventional virus was confirmed.
As for antibody drugs, "Lonapreve" and "Zebdy", which had been confirmed to be effective against conventional viruses, were significantly less effective against "BA.2.75", but "Evasheld", which was approved last month, , It means that the same effect as the conventional virus was confirmed.
Among Omicron strains, "BA.5" is the main infection in Japan, but in some countries such as India, "BA.2.75" is frequently detected.
Professor Kawaoka said, "We cannot deny the possibility that the infection of 'BA.2.75' will spread in Japan, but even if it were to spread in Japan, we would be able to deal with it with the current therapeutic drugs."