Dec 17 (Reuters) - COVID-19 vaccines from U.S. drugmaker Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.N) and China"s Sinopharm as well as Russia"s Sputnik V shot had no neutralizing activity against the Omicron variant, according to a study which has not yet been peer reviewed. The study – conducted by Humabs Biomed SA, a unit of Vir Biotechnology (VIR.O), and the University of Washington, among others – compared the activity of some widely-used COVID-19 vaccines and treatments against Omicron and against the original virus strain first detected in China. Vaccines from Moderna (MRNA.O), AstraZeneca (AZN.L), Pfizer (PFE.N) and partner BioNTech retained activity against Omicron, but the antibody response was greatly reduced when compared with the original strain, the study found. It also found the decrease was less pronounced for vaccinated individuals who were previously infected. (https://bit.ly/3sejWnv) Vials representing the mRNA coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine candidate developed by Sinopharm"s China National Biotec Group (CNBG) are seen displayed at its booth at the 2021 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) in Beijing, China September 3, 2021. REUTERS/Florence Lo A healthcare worker prepares a dose of Sputnik V (Gam-COVID-Vac) vaccine against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at a vaccination centre in Gostiny Dvor in Moscow, Russia July 6, 2021. REUTERS/Tatyana Makeyeva Vials labeled "COVID-19 Coronavirus Vaccine" and syringe are seen in front of displayed Johnson&Johnson logo in this illustration taken, February 9, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic 1/3 A healthcare worker prepares a dose of Sputnik V (Gam-COVID-Vac) vaccine against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at a vaccination centre in Gostiny Dvor in Moscow, Russia July 6, 2021. REUTERS/Tatyana Makeyeva Russia"s Gamaleya Center issed a statement saying that the Sputnik V shot was tested "deliberately using serum samples that are not representative" and thus, conclusions about its effectiveness against the Omicron variant based on the study could not be made. (https://bit.ly/3yAsq9K) The Russian Direct Investment Fund said on Friday that the vaccine induces a "robust neutralizing" antibody response to the Omicron variant, citing a preliminary lab study by the Gamaleya Center. read more Humabs Biomed"s study also found that while the effectiveness of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK.L) and Vir Biotech"s COVID-19 drug sotrovimab reduced three-fold against Omicron compared to the original strain, monoclonal antibody treatments by Regeneron (REGN.O) and Eli Lilly (LLY.N) completely lost their neutralizing activity against the variant. The finding is consistent with recent laboratory tests demonstrating the two treatments lose most of their effectiveness when exposed to the Omicron variant. read more In a real-world study published this week, it was seen that Pfizer-BioNTech"s COVID-19 vaccine has been less effective in South Africa at keeping people infected with the virus out of hospital since t he Omicron variant emerged last month. read more