UK’s green light for breakthrough drug

The first medicine designed to prevent and treat Covid has been approved by the UK regulator.

Ronapreve reduced the risk of infection and hospital admission by about 70 per cent in clinical trials.

It is administered as an injection or infusion and was given to former US President Donald Trump when he caught the virus last year.

Ronapreve, developed by US/Swiss partnership Regeneron and Roche, has two manmade ‘antibodies’ which bind to the virus and stop it invading cells lining the body’s airways.

It is ideal for people with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients, and those who are unable to have the vaccine.

health Secretary Sajid Javid yesterday hailed the ‘fantastic news’, adding: ‘This treatment will be a significant addition to our armoury to tackle Covid-19. We are now working at pace with the NhS and expert clinicians to ensure this treatment can be rolled out as soon as possible.’ Dr Samantha Atkinson, of the Medicines and healthcare products Regulatory Agency, said: ‘Ronapreve is the first of its kind for the treatment of Covid-19 and, after a meticulous assessment we are satisfied that this treatment is safe and effective.’

Sir Martin Landray, professor of medicine and epidemiology at Oxford University, called the approval ‘an important step forward’. he said Ronapreve ‘may play an important role in patients who are at higher risk of severe infection and who are more likely to end up in hospital’.

An ‘antibody cocktail’ made by AstraZeneca for people who cannot be vaccinated cut the risk of symptomatic infection by 77 per cent in trials. The single jab could be a ‘gamechanger’ for shielding Britons, experts say.