Prof Penny Ward, Independent Pharmaceutical Physician, Visiting Professor in Pharmaceutical Medicine at Kings College, London, said:

“This is very good news – this is the second ‘antiviral’ therapeutic to be licensed for COVID in the UK (the first was remdesivir) and the product has been shown to both reduce the need for hospitalisation and death when started early (within 3 days of a positive PCR test) among subjects infected with SARS CoV2 and to prevent illness in close contacts of infected individuals. Although not included in the data submitted to support this approval, the antibody has also been used in the RECOVERY trial, where it reduced length of hospitalisation and reduced mortality in seronegative patients with COVID admitted to hospital.

“Ronapreve is a combination of two antibodies which together prevent the virus from attaching to human cells and causing infection, and also prevent further spread of infection in the body once a person has been infected.

“Studies have taught us that when used as a treatment, and provided that it is given as quickly as possible after first symptoms of illness, the treatment can reduce the length of illness and, more importantly, prevent hospitalisation and death from COVID in infected people. This is particularly important for people at higher risk of severe disease and dying from COVID, whether or not they have been vaccinated prior to becoming ill. The prevention trials showed that giving this antibody to close contacts of individuals sick with COVID can prevent illness and reduce hospitalisation and deaths among close contacts, as well as to prevent illness among individuals that are at high risk when given regularly as ‘passive’ prevention over the duration of an outbreak. The antibody treatment will also reduce the viral load produced by people with infection which might reduce the risk of transmission of infection.

“This is the first available ‘antiviral’ treatment in the UK which can be used in the community to reduce the need for hospitalisation in people at high risk of severe disease and to prevent illness in high risk and particularly among immune suppressed people (for example those being treated for cancer, who have had a transplant etc) who might not have responded as well to vaccine as otherwise healthy people. With this additional tool at our disposal we stand a greater chance of being able to prevent the toll of COVID on hospital services and save more lives.

“The amount that Ronapreve could reduce deaths/pressure on hospitals/infections will depend on the extent of use of the product but it will reduce hospitalisation risk by about 70%; it reduces potential infection and illness in close contacts by about the same amount, as long as given rapidly after exposure.

“I think it is most likely to be used to prevent hospitalisation among people becoming sick with COVID who are at higher risk of needing hospital care/dying from disease. It might also be used to prevent COVID infections in people who are in contact with a confirmed COVID case and who might have reduced response to vaccination (for example people being treated for cancer/ post transplant etc). It can also be used to curtail outbreaks in institutions (care homes, hospitals, prisons, critical workplaces). I expect a NICE guideline on use of this new medicine very quickly.

“It’s a good news day. Let now hope we can order and receive the supply we need to be able to use this effectively as we wait for the oral antivirals which are coming along the pike.”