Science - USA (2022-02-18)

SCIENCE science.org

PHOTO: JUERGEN & CHRISTINE SOHNS/MINDEN PICTURES

its “subvariant” BA.2. The monoclonal, beb-

telovimab, made by Eli Lilly and Company,

can be used in people at least 12 years old

who have mild to moderate COVID-19 and

are at high risk of progressing to severe

disease. In January, FDA revoked emergency

use authorizations for two other monoclonal

treatments—one made by Eli Lilly, the

other by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals—that

did not neutralize Omicron. Sotrovimab,

another monoclonal authorized before

Omicron appeared, appears to have “suffi-

cient” activity against it and BA.2, according

to studies briefly described in press releases

by its makers, Vir Biotechnology and

GlaxoSmithKline. But a preprint report,

posted on bioRxiv on 9 February, suggested

BA.2 had “marked resistance” to sotrovimab

in lab studies. In addition to the monoclo-

nals, three antiviral drugs widely used for

months to treat COVID-19 are also effective

against Omicron, their makers say.

French co-discoverer of HIV dies

VIROLOGY | Luc Montagnier, who won the

Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for

his role in discovering HIV, died last week

at age 89. After receiving the award, he

later lost the respect of many colleagues

for embracing unscientific theories about

cofactors he claimed were needed for the

virus to cause AIDS, water’s ability to hold

memory, and the dangers of COVID-

vaccines. In a landmark Science paper

in 1983, Montagnier’s Pasteur Institute

lab reported the first isolation of a novel

retrovirus from an AIDS patient. But

it wasn’t until 1 year later that Robert

Gallo’s group at the U.S. National Cancer

Institute conclusively proved the virus

caused the disease. This led to a blood

test and a prolonged, impassioned, high-

profile patent battle between Montagnier,

Gallo, and the French and U.S. govern-

ments. A 1987 settlement described the

two scientists as “co-discoverers” of the

virus, but Gallo did not share the Nobel,

awarded in 2008.

Stormy skies for satellite swarm

ASTRONOMY | SpaceX’s Starlink project to

ring the globe with thousands of internet

satellites was buffeted this month by natu-

ral and institutional forces. A 3 February

launch that put 49 satellites into orbit

( joining 1800 already lofted Starlinks)

suffered a blow the next day when a blast

of particles from a solar storm swelled

Earth’s atmosphere, dragging as many as

40 of the satellites to a fiery death on re-

entry. Then last week, NASA and the U.S.

National Science Foundation (NSF) sent

letters to the Federal Communications

Commission about SpaceX’s proposal

to expand its approved constellation of

12,000 Starlinks by another 30,000. NASA

cited concerns about collision hazards,

interference with Earth-observation satel-

lites and space telescopes, and a reduced

number of launch windows for rockets.

NASA does not oppose the expanded fleet

but says coordination will be required to

protect assets from damage. NSF noted

the work SpaceX has already done to

lessen impacts on radio and optical obser-

vatories but says such efforts will be “even

more critical” for larger constellations.

Judge blocks higher carbon cost

CLIMATE POLICY | A federal judge last

week prevented President Joe Biden’s

administration from increasing its esti-

mate of how much carbon pollution costs

CONSERVATION

Koalas declared endangered as wolves get reprieve

T

he iconic koala is now endangered in parts of Australia, the government

announced last week. The status of the marsupial was changed from threatened,

on the advice of an expert panel that blamed dwindling numbers on habitat loss

from land clearing and bush fires, droughts and heat waves, and disease. Koala

populations have declined by 50% to 60% in eastern Australia since 2001, envi-

ronmental organizations estimate. The endangered listing triggers greater protection of

habitats, and the government promised to adopt a national recovery plan. Last month, it

announced it will spend $36 million over 4 years to support conservation. Scientists say

saving the koala will depend on quickly implementing these and other countermeasures.

Meanwhile, a federal court in the United States last week struck down a decision

by former President Donald Trump’s administration to remove gray wolves from the

endangered species list in much of the country outside of the Rockies and Yellowstone

National Park. The ruling restores protection from hunting.

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