Abstract
Variants of SARS-CoV-2 have become a major public health concern due to increased transmissibility, and escape from natural immunity, vaccine protection, and monoclonal antibody therapeutics. The highly transmissible Omicron variant has up to 32 mutations within the spike protein, many more than previous variants, heightening these concerns of immune escape. There are now multiple antiviral therapeutics that have received approval for emergency use by the FDA and target both the SARS-CoV-2 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and the main protease (Mpro), which have accumulated fewer mutations in known SARS-CoV-2 variants. Here we test nirmatrelvir (PF-07321332), and other clinically relevant SARS-CoV-2 antivirals, against a panel of SARS-CoV-2 variants, including the novel Omicron variant, in live-virus antiviral assays. We confirm that nirmatrelvir and other clinically relevant antivirals all maintain activity against all variants tested, including Omicron.
Competing Interest Statement
D.K.R., R.D.C., A.S.A., are employees of Pfizer, were involved with the development of nirmatrelvir, and may own/hold stock options. The K.M.W. and A.G-S. laboratories has received research support from Pfizer, Senhwa Biosciences, Kenall Manufacturing, Avimex, Johnson & Johnson, Dynavax, 7Hills Pharma, Pharmamar, ImmunityBio, Accurius, Nanocomposix, Hexamer, N-fold LLC, Model Medicines, Atea Pharma and Merck. A.G.-S. has consulting agreements for the following companies involving cash and/or stock: Vivaldi Biosciences, Contrafect, 7Hills Pharma, Avimex, Vaxalto, Pagoda, Accurius, Esperovax, Farmak, Applied Biological Laboratories, Pharmamar, Paratus, CureLab Oncology, CureLab Veterinary and Pfizer. A.G.-S. is inventor on patents and patent applications on the use of antivirals and vaccines for the treatment and prevention of virus infections and cancer, owned by the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, outside of the reported work.
Footnotes
PSP (Pathogen Surveillance Program) study group: Hala Alshammary, R. Banu, K. Farrugia, Ana Silvia Gonzalez-Reiche, A. Paniz-Mondolfi, J. Polanco