Close X
Sunday, November 24, 2024
ADVT 
National

EU regulator advises AstraZeneca's COVID drug be cleared

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 24 Mar, 2022 12:41 PM
  • EU regulator advises AstraZeneca's COVID drug be cleared

LONDON (AP) — The European Union's drug regulator said Thursday it was recommending that an antibody medication developed by AstraZeneca be authorized to help some vulnerable people avoid getting sick with the coronavirus.

The European Medicines Agency said in a statement that it was advising the use of the new drug, sold as Evusheld, in people age 12 and over before they were exposed to COVID-19, to prevent future infections.

It is now up to the EU's executive arm, the European Commission, to officially authorize the drug.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared the medication in December for people with serious health problems or allergies who can’t get adequate protection from vaccination. Britain authorized the use of Evusheld last week.

“When the antibodies in Evusheld attach to the spike protein, the virus cannot enter the cells to multiply and is unable to cause COVID-19 infection,” the EMA said. The agency said it had assessed data on the drug from more than 5,000 people and found Evusheld reduced the risk of infection by 77%, with protection estimated to last at least six months.

EMA said the drug's side effects were mostly mild, with some people reporting reactions at the injection point. The agency noted that research was done before the emergence of the hugely infectious omicron variant and said that it was evaluating data to determine if a different dose might be needed.

Although antibody drugs have been a standard treatment for treating COVID-19 infections for more than a year, AstraZeneca's is the first intended for long-term prevention against COVID-19 infection rather than as a short-term treatment.

People who could benefit from the antibody drug include cancer patients, organ transplant recipients and individuals taking immune-suppressing drugs for conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.

___

 

MORE National ARTICLES

B.C. preparing for Ukrainian refugees: Horgan

B.C. preparing for Ukrainian refugees: Horgan
Horgan said Friday he met with Ukrainian community leaders and spoke earlier with refugee settlement agencies and some faith groups about plans to meet the housing, health and transition needs of those fleeing the war.

B.C. preparing for Ukrainian refugees: Horgan

B.C. premier criticizes COVID-19 protesters

B.C. premier criticizes COVID-19 protesters
Video posted on social media says a convoy of vehicles is on the way from Ottawa to Victoria where people are preparing to stay for months to conduct multiple rolling protests.    

B.C. premier criticizes COVID-19 protesters

B.C. COVID-19 hospitalizations drop to 368

B.C. COVID-19 hospitalizations drop to 368
The Health Ministry said in a news release Friday the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations has dropped to 368 from 388 Thursday, with 46 people in intensive care.

B.C. COVID-19 hospitalizations drop to 368

One killed in North Vancouver shooting: RCMP

One killed in North Vancouver shooting: RCMP
Mounties say the shooting took place Friday afternoon outside the Real Canadian Superstore on Seymour Boulevard, just north of the entrance to the Iron Workers Memorial Bridge.

One killed in North Vancouver shooting: RCMP

Pandemic anniversary reminder to be vigilant

Pandemic anniversary reminder to be vigilant
This time, the deputy chief public health officer and his chief, Dr. Theresa Tam, were there to inform Canadians of the first case of the novel coronavirus in Canada.

Pandemic anniversary reminder to be vigilant

Conservative leadership race: who's in, who's out

Conservative leadership race: who's in, who's out
With Sept. 10 picked as the date for when the Conservative Party of Canada will have a new leader, time is ticking for prospective candidates and their teams to get into place. Those running have until April 19 to throw their hat into the ring and until June 3 to sell memberships.

Conservative leadership race: who's in, who's out