Remdesivir and Obeldesivir Retain Potent Antiviral Activity Against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variants

As new SARS-CoV-2 variants continue to emerge, it is important to evaluate the potency of antiviral drugs to support their continued use. Remdesivir (RDV; VEKLURY<sup>®</sup>) an approved antiviral treatment for COVID-19, and obeldesivir (ODV) are inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 RNA-depende...

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Main Authors: Lauren Rodriguez, J. Lizbeth Reyes Zamora, Dong Han, Jasmine Moshiri, Nadine Peinovich, Clarissa Martinez, Pui Yan Ho, Jiani Li, Thomas Aeschbacher, Ross Martin, Andrew Pekosz, John P. Bilello, Jason K. Perry, Charlotte Hedskog
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Viruses
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/2/168
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Summary:As new SARS-CoV-2 variants continue to emerge, it is important to evaluate the potency of antiviral drugs to support their continued use. Remdesivir (RDV; VEKLURY<sup>®</sup>) an approved antiviral treatment for COVID-19, and obeldesivir (ODV) are inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase Nsp12. Here we show these two compounds retain antiviral activity against the Omicron variants BA.2.86, BF.7, BQ.1, CH.1.1, EG.1.2, EG.5.1, EG.5.1.4, FL.22, HK.3, HV.1, JN.1, JN.1.7, JN.1.18, KP.2, KP.3, LB.1, XBB.1.5, XBB.1.5.72, XBB.1.16, XBB.2.3.2, XBC.1.6, and XBF when compared with reference strains. Genomic analysis identified 29 Nsp12 polymorphisms in these and previous Omicron variants. Phenotypic analysis of these polymorphisms confirmed no impact on the antiviral activity of RDV or ODV and suggests Omicron variants containing these Nsp12 polymorphisms remain susceptible to both compounds. These data support the continued use of RDV in the context of circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants and the development of ODV as an antiviral therapeutic.
ISSN:1999-4915