Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

UK approves another antibody treatment for Covid

UK approves another antibody treatment for Covid

The UK has approved another antibody treatment for people with Covid that cuts the risk of severe illness.

It's called sotrovimab, and scientists say preliminary checks suggest it should work well even against new variants such as Omicron.

The drug, given in a drip into a vein, binds to the virus to stop it entering our cells.

In a clinical trial, a single dose reduced the risk of hospitalisation and death by 79% in high risk adults.

It is the second drug of its kind - a monoclonal antibody treatment - that UK regulators have approved.

Both sotrovimab and the other approved antibody treatment, ronapreve, are most effective when taken during the early stages of infection. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) recommends they are used within five days of someone getting symptoms.

Dr June Raine, MHRA chief executive, said: "This is yet another therapeutic that has been shown to be effective at protecting those most vulnerable to Covid-19, and signals another significant step forward in our fight against this devastating disease."

Drug company GSK, which made sotrovimab (Xevudy), says it has run some early tests in the lab to see how well the treatment fares against the new, heavily mutated Covid variant Omicron that is now spreading around the world.

More checks are needed, but researchers say the drug targets a part of the spike protein of the virus that has not yet undergone big changes or mutations, meaning it should work well.

Henny Braund, chief executive of cancer charity Anthony Nolan, said: "This is positive news for blood cancer patients, who we know are less likely to be protected from Covid-19 vaccines than the wider population. It is particularly important that patients can access this treatment immediately, if they contract the virus, and there is clear guidance for doctors on making it available."

What treatments do we have against Covid?


Aside from vaccines that are designed to help prevent infections happening in the first place, as well as cut the risk of getting very ill, there are a few different types of treatments for Covid.

They fall into three main categories:

* Antibodies that can target the virus, taken from either survivors' blood plasma or made in a lab (such as sotrovimab and ronapreve)

* Antiviral pills, such as molnupiravir, that directly affect the coronavirus's ability to thrive inside the body

* Drugs, such as dexamethasone, that calm the immune system

Most people who have Covid do not need any treatment and will recover within a few weeks. You may be able to look after yourself at home. Some of the same things you do to feel better if you have the flu - resting, drinking enough fluids and taking paracetamol or ibuprofen - can help.

If you become more unwell then you should seek medical help.

People who think they may have Covid should get a test and self-isolate to help stop the virus spreading.

AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
White House Eyes Budapest for Peace Talks
Cave Diving Beneath the Streets of Budapest
Another American Restaurant Chain Opens in Budapest
Hungarian Opposition Politician Supports Ukrainian Commander
U.S. Celebrates Labor Day
Hungarian National Team Captain Scores Epic Goal
Opposition Leader Threatens Media Outlets
Budapest Central European Fashion Week Kicks Off
American Airlines Adds New Flights to Budapest
F1 Hungarian Grand Prix Wraps Up
WhatsApp is rolling out a feature that looks a lot like Telegram.
U.S. Trade Representative says Washington still negotiating trade deals after court rules tariffs illegal
Von der Leyen says Europe drawing up 'precise' plans to send troops to Ukraine
Kremlin accuses Europe of hindering Trump’s peace efforts in Ukraine
German Chancellor Merz expects Ukraine war to last a long time
Why Hungarians feel poorer than their neighbours despite rising wages
Fidesz minister vows Hungary will ‘rescue’ a crisis-stricken EU
Budapest completes back-to-school infrastructure upgrade
Hungarian–Chinese consortium wins tender for Budapest trolleybuses
Betting market fuels speculation about Viktor Orbán’s future
European Union Plans for Ukraine Deployment
ECB Warns Against Inflation Complacency
Concerns Over North Cyprus Casino Development
Shipping Companies Look Beyond Chinese Finance
Rural Exodus Fueling European Wildfires
China Hosts Major Security Meeting
Germany Marks a Decade Since Migrant Wave with Divisions, Success Stories, and Political Shifts
Liverpool Defeat Arsenal 1–0 with Szoboszlai Free-Kick to Stay Top of Premier League
Chinese Stock Market Rally Fueled by Domestic Investors
Israeli Airstrike in Yemen Kills Houthi Prime Minister
Ukrainian Nationalist Politician Andriy Parubiy Assassinated in Lviv
Trump Administration Seeks to Repurpose $4.9 Billion in Foreign Aid
Corporate America Cuts Middle Management as Bosses Take On Triple the Workload
Parents Sue OpenAI After Teen’s Death, Alleging ChatGPT Encouraged Suicide
Amazon Faces Lawsuit Over 'Buy' Label on Digital Streaming Content
US Appeals Court Rules Against Most Trump-Era Tariffs
Germany’s Auto Industry Sheds 51,500 Jobs in First Half of 2025 Amid Deepening Crisis
Bruce Willis Relocated Due to Advanced Dementia
French and Korean Nuclear Majors Clash As EU Launches Foreign Subsidy Probe
EU Stands Firm on Digital Rules as Trump Warns of Retaliation
Getting Ready for the 3rd Time in Its History, Germany Approves Voluntary Military Service for Teenagers
Denmark Confronts U.S. Diplomat Over Covert Trump-Linked Influence in Greenland
Trump Demands RICO Charges Against George Soros and Son for Funding Violent Protests
Taylor Swift Announces Engagement to NFL Star Travis Kelce
France May Need IMF Bailout, Warns Finance Minister
After the Shock of Defeat, Iranians Yearn for Change
Ukraine Finally Allows Young Men Aged Eighteen to Twenty-Two to Leave the Country
The Porn Remains, Privacy Disappears: How Britain Broke the Internet in Ten Days
YouTube Altered Content by Artificial Intelligence – Without Permission
Ukrainian Refugee Iryna Zarutska Fled War To US, Stabbed To Death
×