New Covid-19 variant: Antivirals hold the key as mutations surface

Antivirals do not specifically target only the spike protein but the other parts of the virus, too

With Omicron appearing on the scene as the new variant of concern, experts say developing antivirals is the way forward to combat Covid in the long run. If the ever-mutating virus keeps evading the vaccine-induced immunity, one can think of next-generation Covid vaccines, but it is antivirals that hold the key to combating the virus, say scientists.

Speaking to Business Standard, E Sreekumar, chief scientific officer at the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram, explains that how a treatment works against new variants depends on which domains or parts of the spike protein have mutated.

“This one (Omicron) has over 30 mutations