Ronapreve, a drug developed by the US biotech company Regeneron, which treats Covid-19 with the help of antibodies, became the first of its kind to be given the green light in Britain, according to The Guardian.
The artificial antibody drug, which has been used in the past to treat Donald Trump, has now been approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)to fight the virus.
The results of clinical trials have shown that it helps prevent Covid-19 infection.
It also reduces the risk of hospitalization or alleviates the symptoms of a severe course of illness if the medicine is given shortly after exposure to the virus.
Penny Ward, a visiting professor in pharmaceutical medicine at King’s College, London, said Ronapreve could reduce the risk of hospital admission by about 70%.
The medicine is intended to help those most at risk of hospitalization or who are less likely to be protected by current vaccines.
“It is not intended to be used as a substitute for vaccination,” says the MHRA.
The treatment is especially suitable for immunocompromised people, such as transplant patients or those being treated for cancer, for whom Vaccines can be a risk.
Martin Landray, a professor of medicine and epidemiology at Oxford University, said drug approval was an “important step forward” but points out costs could prevent those who need the drug the most from getting it.
The health secretary, Sajid Javid, says the green light for Ronapreve is ‘fantastic news’ and hopes the treatment could be available as soon as possible.
Image: Cristian Storto, Getty Images/iStockphoto
