The British Drug Regulatory Authority has approved treatment for COVID-19 based on AstraZeneca antibodies to prevent infections in adults with a weak immune response, a major step in the fight against pandemics as the number of infections increases worldwide.
The decision to approve the use of Evusheld was welcomed by the government’s independent scientific advisory committee, the Drugs and Medical Products Regulatory Authority (MHRA) said today.
Evidence shows that a global increase in COVID-19 infections could bode well for a much bigger problem, the World Health Organization said this week, warning countries to stay vigilant.
Although 85% of Britons over the age of 12 have been vaccinated with both doses, people who are immunosuppressed or have a history of serious side effects with a vaccine may need an alternative prevention option.
“While COVID-19 vaccines are still the first line of defense against COVID-19, we know that some people may not respond well to these vaccines,” said MHRA chief John Raine.
Vaccines rely on an intact immune system to develop targeted antibodies and cells that fight infection, but Evusheld includes laboratory-made antibodies designed to stay in the body for months to tame the virus in case of infection.
Treatment has been found to reduce the risk of developing symptomatic COVID-19 by 77%, with protection lasting at least six months after a single dose, the MHRA said.
Evusheld has also been shown to save lives and prevent the progression of the disease when given within a week of the onset of symptoms.
Britain and AstraZeneca do not have a temporary agreement for the supply of Evusheld.
AstraZeneca said in a statement that it hoped the treatment would be available to the British “as soon as possible”.
Evusheld is evaluated by the European Drug Regulatory Authority and approved in the United States for the prevention of COVID-19 infections in people with weakened immune systems or a history of serious side effects from coronavirus vaccines.
The MHRA said the treatment, given as an intramuscular injection, should not be given to people who have been infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID or to have recently been exposed to someone who carried the virus.
However, the British regulator pointed out that there is not enough data to fully assess the effectiveness of Evusheld against the highly contagious Omicron variant, adding that it is working with AstraZeneca on this issue.
AstraZeneca reported in December that laboratory research had found that the treatment retained its neutralizing effect against Omicron.
Eli Lilly, Regeneron and GSK are some of the other pharmaceutical companies working on COVID antibody-based therapies.
SOURCE: AMPE
Source: Capital
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
