GVN Statement on SARS-CoV-2 Variant BA.2.75

There is some concern about the new SARS-CoV-2 variant BA.2.75. Very preliminary data on this variant suggests high growth advantage when compared to earlier variants. The N460K mutation in the Spike protein has been suggested as distinctive, conferring growth advantage to pseudotype virions. Epidemiologists around the world are aware of this variant, and the GVN will be monitoring all available data to determine its prevalence. The take-home message is that new SARS-CoV-2 variants are continually emerging, so research must focus on developing vaccines that elicit durable and broadly effective immune responses (both in terms of antibodies and T cell breadth) that can block a wide spectrum of variants.