TY - JOUR T1 - The Omicron variant is highly resistant against antibody-mediated neutralization – implications for control of the COVID-19 pandemic JF - bioRxiv DO - 10.1101/2021.12.12.472286 SP - 2021.12.12.472286 AU - Markus Hoffmann AU - Nadine Krüger AU - Sebastian Schulz AU - Anne Cossmann AU - Cheila Rocha AU - Amy Kempf AU - Inga Nehlmeier AU - Luise Graichen AU - Anna-Sophie Moldenhauer AU - Martin S. Winkler AU - Martin Lier AU - Alexandra Dopfer-Jablonka AU - Hans-Martin Jäck AU - Georg M. N. Behrens AU - Stefan Pöhlmann Y1 - 2021/01/01 UR - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/12/13/2021.12.12.472286.abstract N2 - The rapid spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant suggests that the virus might become globally dominant. Further, the high number of mutations in the viral spike-protein raised concerns that the virus might evade antibodies induced by infection or vaccination. Here, we report that the Omicron spike was resistant against most therapeutic antibodies but remained susceptible to inhibition by Sotrovimab. Similarly, the Omicron spike evaded neutralization by antibodies from convalescent or BNT162b2-vaccinated individuals with 10- to 44-fold higher efficiency than the spike of the Delta variant. Neutralization of the Omicron spike by antibodies induced upon heterologous ChAdOx1/BNT162b2-vaccination or vaccination with three doses of BNT162b2 was more efficient, but the Omicron spike still evaded neutralization more efficiently than the Delta spike. These findings indicate that most therapeutic antibodies will be ineffective against the Omicron variant and that double immunization with BNT162b2 might not adequately protect against severe disease induced by this variant.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest. ER -