The medicine sotrovimab, developed by GlaxoSmithKline, was licensed by British authorities on Thursday to treat patients at high risk of developing severe Covid-19 symptoms, with the firm claiming it “retains activity” against the new Omicron form.

According to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, the monoclonal antibody “was proven to be safe and effective in reducing the risk of hospitalization and mortality in persons with mild to moderate COVID-19 infection who are at a greater risk of developing severe illness” (MHRA).