AZ optimistic UK will order its new Covid antibody drug

ASTRAZENECA’S Covid antibody drug slashes the risk of new variants emerging, the company said, as Britain faces mounting pressure to follow other Western nations in ordering doses.

Pascal Soriot, AZ chief executive, said its Evusheld Covid antibody treatment, which has regulatory approval in the UK as well as the EU and the US, not only protects the immunocompromised but also “reduces the risk of development of [vaccine] resistances and the emergence of new variants”.

The EU Medicines Agency has said there is now a more urgent need for older populations to get boosted.

However, the UK has yet to order any doses of Evusheld.

AZ said it remained in talks with government officials and Iskra Reic, executive vice president of its vaccines and immune therapies division, said: “I’m optimistic they’ll make the right call.”

AZ said stronger demand for the treatment from other countries, including Canada and Australia, meant it was raising its sales forecasts for the year to go up by a low 20s percentage this year.