Following the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617.2 Delta coronavirus strain, a new strain, B.1.1.529 Omicron, is spreading like an avalanche around the world, which is even more contagious (contagious) and, according to scientists, will dominate the world in the coming months .
The Omicron variant has 37 new mutations, the S-protein of the new strain does have
significantly increased ability to evade neutralizing antibodies. According to the latest
data, the effectiveness of existing vaccines against the Omicron strain ranges from 52 to 70%. Pfizer, in collaboration with BioNTech, announced the development of an updated vaccine aimed at the Omicron strain and its availability for widespread use as early as March 2022. In fact, by doing so, global manufacturers of vaccines against coronavirus confirm that the level of protection provided by existing vaccines may be insufficient.
DiaProph-Med is closely monitoring the development of the situation with the emergence of new strains of SARS-CoV2 coronavirus. The scientific core of the company has developed a new product - an enzyme immunoassay test system for the determination of neutralizing antibodies to the SARS-CoV2 coronavirus of the Omicron strain. The proposed test system simulates the process of virus penetration into a cell and makes it possible to quantify the ability of antibodies in a sample to prevent infection with the Omicron strain. At the moment, the new test system is undergoing the full range of necessary tests to quickly enter the market.
The new product is part of the company's strategy to provide laboratories of Ukraine with modern high-quality diagnostic tools for assessing the state of the immune system of patients in terms of the ability of immunity to counteract new strains of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.