Authorized the first drug that prevents the spread of covid

Although vaccines have been shown to be the best antidote to COVID for now, a host of medicines that can also be useful to stop the virus, especially where vaccines do not reach. In fact, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) authorized in mid-November the first two medicines with monoclonal antibodies: Ronapreve, developed by the firms Regeneron and Roche, and Regkirona, from the South Korean biopharmaceutical company Celltrion.

Both have been shown to be effective in reducing the serious effects of COVID and, therefore, hospitalizations and deaths. And, as a novelty, the Ronapreve can also be used for prevent infection, which opens the door to many uses, such as in immunosuppressed patients, such as transplants or seriously ill with some types of cancer, in which the vaccines hardly work.

“Let’s imagine that we have a relative with lymphoma, who is undergoing chemotherapy and a case of covid is detected at home, at that very moment the drug could be administered and would be protected for at least one month“, explained Alex Soriano, head of the infectious diseases service of the Hospital Clínic, in the presentation of Ronapreve in Spain. Although, he has recognized that the effect as a prophylaxis has proven its effectiveness in any type of people and, therefore, also it could be used in other cases.

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It will be the Ministry of Health the one that determines in which situations it can be prescribed and “a protocol will probably be approved, so that it reaches the patients who need it in an orderly and fluid manner”, explained Federico Plaza, director of Roche. On France It has been used since June for infected inpatients or outpatients given that, according to trials, Ronapreve reduces hospitalization or death by 70% and the duration of symptoms to four days. And, as a preventive weapon, in immunosuppressed patients. In this case, studies have shown that it reduces the risk of symptomatic infection by 81%.

Plaza has specified that Ronapreve will be available in Spain “in a short time”, about six or eight weeks if the Autonomous Communities materialize their purchase commitments.