'Evusheld' Scheduled for Introduction in July, Also Effective in Treating COVID-19

TACKLE Study Results Published in The Lancet Respiratory Journal
Prevention of Severe Progression and Death in Mild to Severe Patients Upon Administration

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] The COVID-19 preventive antibody agent 'Evusheld,' scheduled to be introduced in South Korea in July, has also been shown to be effective in treating COVID-19 patients.

Evusheld from AstraZeneca (AZ) is an antibody agent that prevents COVID-19 infection and is intended for people without a history of infection, unlike treatments for already confirmed patients. It works by directly injecting antibodies into the bodies of severely immunocompromised individuals who have difficulty producing antibodies even after vaccination. In South Korea, it is undergoing the emergency use approval process by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.

According to the TACKLE study published in the international academic journal The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, Evusheld also showed a significant preventive effect against severe illness and death compared to placebo when administered to COVID-19 infected patients.

This study was conducted on adult outpatients with mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms lasting 7 days or less. Ninety percent of the clinical trial participants were patients at high risk of severe COVID-19 progression due to underlying conditions or age.

In the clinical trial, administering 600 mg of Evusheld to COVID-19 patients within 7 days of symptom onset resulted in a 50% reduction in the risk of severe COVID-19 or death by day 29, the primary endpoint, compared to the placebo group. The number of severe COVID-19 cases or deaths in the Evusheld group was 18, fewer than the 37 in the placebo group.

The effect was greater when treatment was given within 3 to 5 days of symptom onset. In these patients, the risk of severe COVID-19 decreased by 67%, and the risk of death decreased by 88% compared to placebo.

Additionally, Evusheld reduced the risk of respiratory failure, a secondary endpoint, by 72%.

Men? Pangalos, Executive Vice President of BioPharmaceuticals R&D at AZ, stated, "Along with these study results, there is growing evidence supporting that the use of Evusheld can help patients who are most in need of additional protection against COVID-19." He added, "We are currently discussing the TACKLE data with regulatory authorities worldwide and are pursuing approval applications for indications covering both treatment and prevention to combat COVID-19."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.