UK approves Covid drug that slashes risk of death and hospitalisation
UK approves GSK’s Covid antibody drug that slashes risk of death and hospitalisation by nearly 80% — but it might be weaker against Omicron super-strain
- Sotrovimab, sold as Xevudy, has been approved by UK medical regulators
- But there are fears that it may be weaker against the Omicron variant
- Treatment will be available for those with mild to moderate Covid
Britain’s medical regulator has approved a Covid antibody drug for use in patients — but it may be weaker against super-strain Omicron.
Sotrovimab, sold under the brand name Xevudy, was found to cut hospitalisations from the virus by 79 per cent in clinical trials.
Regulators said the monoclonal antibody should be used in people with mild to moderate Covid who are at risk of serious disease.
The treatment should be given within five days of a patient starting to suffer symptoms.
Its developers say the drug works against some of the mutations on the Omicron variant, but it is not clear whether it will be able to fight off the strain.
Britain has ordered around 100,000 doses of the drug.
It comes after the UK became the first country in the world to approve monoclonal antibody treatment Ronapreve in August.
Scientists have spotted ten cases of the Omicron variant in the country so far.
GlaxoSmithKline’s monoclonal antibody drug cuts the risk of Covid patients dying or being admitted to hospital by 79 per cent, trial results have found (stock)
Monoclonal antibodies are lab-produced molecules that mimic human antibodies — disease-fighting proteins made by the immune system
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulator Agency (MHRA) said Sotrovimab was found to be ‘safe and effective’ at reducing the risk of hospital admission.
The drug works by binding to the Covid spike protein — which it uses to invade cells — stopping the virus from infecting cells.
Sotrovimab has been authorised for use in people who have mild to moderate Covid infection and at least one risk factor for developing severe illness, such risk as being over 60, obesity, diabetes mellitus or heart disease.
It is approved for individuals aged 12 and above who weigh more than 40kg.
Dr June Raine, MHRA chief executive, said: ‘I am pleased to say that we now have another safe and effective Covid-19 treatment, Xevudy (sotrovimab), for those at risk of developing severe illness.
‘This is yet another therapeutic that has been shown to be effective at protecting those most vulnerable to Covid-19 and signals another significant step forward in our fight against this devastating disease.
‘With no compromises on quality, safety and effectiveness, the public can trust that the MHRA have conducted a robust and thorough assessment of all the available data.’
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