(Bloomberg) -- The antibody therapy developed by AstraZeneca Plc won clearance from European Union regulators to prevent Covid-19 in patients aged 12 and over.
A European Medicines Agency panel endorsed the product, called Evusheld, and said it was safe for use in adolescents and adults weighing at least 40kg (88 pounds).
This is a wider endorsement than the therapy received in the U.K. last week when the regulator approved the drug for use in patients with poor immune defenses.
Evusheld consists of two monoclonal antibodies which attach to the spike protein of the virus that causes Covid-19 and prevent it from entering cells and multiplying. Given preventively it can cut the risk of developing Covid in patients who don't respond to vaccines or can't get the shots.
In a clinical trial, Evusheld was found to reduce the risk by 77%, with protection continuing for at least six months after one dose, the EMA said in a statement Thursday.
The long-acting drug combination is also approved in the U.S. for high-risk people. It's unclear how well it works against omicron and its newest mutation, known as BA.2.
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