The European Union's drug regulator has said that a Covid-19 antibody treatment developed by GlaxoSmithKline and Vir Biotechnology can be used to treat patients who are at risk of severe disease and do not need supplemental oxygen.

The opinion relates to the use of the treatment, sotrovimab, in adults and adolescents aged 12 years or older and weighing at least 40 kilogrammes. Interim data from a study of the experimental therapy showed 85 per cent reduction in hospitalisation and deaths among Covid-19 patients, GSK and Vir had said.

"Based on our most recent in-vitro data, sotrovimab continues to combat Covid-19 as it evolves and has retained activity against all circulating variants of concern," Vir Chief Executive George Scangos said in a joint statement with GSK.