What We Know So Far About the SARS-CoV-2 Variant XFG That Is a Competitor to the NB.1.8.1 Variant
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Jun 13, 2025 3 weeks, 4 days, 8 hours, 7 minutes ago
Thailand Medical News: The global medical and scientific communities are closely monitoring the emergence of a new recombinant SARS-CoV-2 variant named XFG, which is rapidly spreading across various countries and demonstrating notable immune evasion properties. Despite its fast transmission and ability to bypass vaccine- or infection-induced antibodies, the XFG variant does not yet appear to be associated with increased disease severity or hospitalization rates. However, experts warn that its enhanced immune escape capabilities could potentially drive new waves of infections in the coming months.
What Do We Know So Far About the SARS-CoV-2 Variant XFG That Is a Competitor to the NB.1.8.1 Variant
There is some concerns however that some of its spawns such as XFG.2 could be exhibiting enhanced tropism to cells in the gastrointestinal tract and are causing conditions such as a unique form of severe gastric reflux in some, gastrointestinal ischemia, dangerous stomach and intestinal lesions, ruptured spleens, etc . Studies are underway to verify/validate these reports.
This
Thailand Medical News report highlights the growing concerns surrounding the XFG variant, which was first identified in Canada in early February 2025. The variant is a recombinant strain resulting from the genetic recombination of two Omicron sublineages, LF.7 and LP.8.1.2. Since its discovery, XFG has spread to multiple countries, prompting intensified genomic surveillance and public health monitoring.
Spread and Prevalence
In India, the variant has shown a sharp rise, with 163 confirmed cases reported as of June 9, 2025. Maharashtra remains the most affected state with 89 cases, followed by Tamil Nadu with 16 cases and Kerala with 15. Notably, the majority of these cases—159—were detected during May 2025, indicating recent acceleration in community transmission.
In the United States, XFG has also been rapidly expanding. By late April 2025, it accounted for around 10 percent of all sequenced SARS-CoV-2 samples in North America and Europe. In certain hotspots such as New York, its prevalence has surpassed 50 percent of sequenced cases by early June 2025. The variant is currently dominant in India, comprising 65 percent of recent sequenced samples, and is also gaining a foothold in Japan, though its presence appears to be waning in regions where it previously surged.
Genetic Mutations and Immune Escape
XFG is distinguished by four key spike protein mutations, including A475V and N487D. These mutations significantly enhance the variant’s ability to evade the immune response, particularly neutralizing antibodies induced by prior infections or vaccinations. However, these changes also appear to reduce the variant’s binding affinity to the ACE2 receptor, which may slightly impair its transmissibility unless additional compensatory mutations evolve.
Despite this, XFG demonstrates a growth advantage over the previously dominant LP.8.1.1 Omicron sublineage, which could enable it to fuel new inf
ection waves, especially in regions with low booster vaccine coverage or reduced genomic surveillance.
Antigenic Profile
Preliminary laboratory studies using pseudovirus neutralization assays confirm that XFG exhibits substantial immune escape. While antigenically close to the JN.1 lineage (which current 2024–2025 vaccines target), XFG is still able to circumvent neutralizing responses to a significant degree. Fortunately, it remains slightly less evasive than the BA.3.2 variant.
Clinical Impact and Symptoms
As of now, there is no evidence suggesting that XFG causes more severe clinical manifestations than previous Omicron variants. Infected individuals typically experience mild to moderate symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, and fatigue—symptoms consistent with the broader spectrum of COVID-19 cases seen over the past year.
Nevertheless, the combination of rapid spread and immune evasion raises concerns about potential spikes in case numbers, especially among vulnerable or unvaccinated populations.
Urgent Need for Genomic Surveillance and Public Health Vigilance
Public health experts are emphasizing the importance of continued genomic surveillance to track the spread and evolution of XFG. Agencies such as India’s INSACOG and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are actively monitoring its progression. However, gaps in surveillance infrastructure—especially in the United States—pose a challenge to real-time assessment of XFG’s impact.
Standard public health precautions remain vital. These include practicing good hygiene, avoiding crowded indoor spaces, and self-isolating when symptomatic. These measures will be critical in minimizing XFG’s impact, especially while new boosters are being developed and deployed.
Competition from Other Variants
XFG is currently competing with another emerging SARS-CoV-2 variant known as NB.1.8.1, which has gained dominance in China and Hong Kong. While NB.1.8.1 exhibits superior ACE2 receptor binding efficiency, XFG’s key advantage lies in its heightened immune evasion. The ongoing competition between these two subvariants could influence regional and global patterns of infection in the coming months.
Conclusion
XFG represents the latest chapter in the ongoing evolution of SARS-CoV-2. While it does not appear to cause more severe disease at this stage, its ability to escape immune responses and displace other variants underscores the need for vigilance. Continued global surveillance and public health measures are crucial to prevent further disruptions caused by this rapidly spreading recombinant variant.
References
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099%2825%2900308-1/fulltext
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.04.30.651462v1
https://health.economictimes.indiatimes.com/amp/news/industry/163-cases-of-new-covid-19-variant-xfg-detected-in-india-amid-rising-concerns/121726214
https://www.indiatoday.in/health/story/new-covid-19-variant-xfg-detected-in-163-cases-in-india-virulence-transmissibility-insacog-2738138-2025-06-09
https://x.com/JPWeiland/status/1930022179854328288
https://x.com/yunlong_cao/status/1932035033436749905
For more insights on emerging variants and the latest COVID-19 developments, always check with
Thailand Medical News.
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/despite-debut-of-new-sar-cov-2-ba-3-2-variant-with-50-plus-mutations-nb-1-8-1-and-xfg-will-prevail-in-weeks-ahead
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/sars-cov-2-nb-1-8-1-s-new-spawns-pq-1-and-pq-2-acquire-sars1-mutations-raising-global-alarm
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/covid-19-surge-in-india-is-driven-by-multiple-variants-including-xfg-xfp-and-nb-1-8-1-with-xfp-driving-disease-severity
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/coronavirus
https://www.thailandmedical.news/pages/thailand_doctors_listings
Share
Tweet
Share
