The New England Journal of Medicine on Wednesday reported that antibody treatment may cause the virus to mutate and become resistant to the drug, as was observed in patients with the Delta variant. 

The researchers evaluated 100 patients who were positive with the Delta variant infection and were administered sotrovimab from GlaxoSmithKline and Vir Biotechnology intravenously. Eight patients continued to shed infectious virus for a longer time period than expected and in 4 out of these 8, mutations in viral particles were noted. These mutations were observed within 6 to 13 days post drug administration and could reduce the drug’s effectiveness. 

Rebecca Rockett of the University of Sydney, Australia, the lead author of the report, said that similar mutations were observed among 4 out of 45 individuals in an earlier clinical trial of the drug. Rockett said that better monitoring was needed while such treatments were being used and additional research was required to ensure that the effectiveness of the antiviral treatments is maintained and in case resistance is developed, it does not transmit into the community. (Reuters, March 12, 2022)