New Covid drug that cuts risk of death by 79% is approved in UK

A new Covid-19 treatment has been approved by UK regulators, in what could be a major boost for the NHS ahead of a difficult winter.

The monoclonal antibody Xevudy (sotrovimab), made by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), has been approved for people in the UK at high risk of developing severe Covid-19, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said.

The treatment has been found to cut hospitalisation and death by 79% and is for people with mild to moderate Covid-19 who are at high risk of developing severe disease.

MHRA chief executive Dr June Raine explained: ‘I am pleased to say that we now have another safe and effective Covid-19 treatment, Xevudy (sotrovimab), for those at risk of developing severe illness.

‘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.

‘With no compromises on quality, safety and effectiveness, the public can trust that the MHRA have conducted a robust and thorough assessment of all the available data.’

Professor Sir Munir Pirmohamed, Chair of the Commission on Human Medicines, added: ‘The Commission on Human Medicines and its COVID-19 Therapeutics Expert Working Group has independently reviewed the data and agrees with the MHRA’s regulatory approval of Xevudy (sotrovimab).

‘When administered in the early stages of infection, sotrovimab was found to be effective at reducing the risk of hospitalisation and death in high-risk individuals with symptomatic COVID-19.

‘Based on the data reviewed by the Commission and its expert group, it is clear sotrovimab is another safe and effective treatment to help us in our fight against COVID-19.’

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