Evaluation of medicines to prevent COVID-19

, the COVID-19 Antivirals and Therapeutics Taskforce closed on 31 March 2023.Find out about on the NHS website.Evusheld is an antibody therapy developed for the pre-exposure prophylaxis (prevention) of COVID-19.In March 2022, Evusheld was authorised by the Medicines Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for prophylaxis.

The provides more information on Evusheld, including effectiveness against variants.Based on the evidence available and after careful analysis and consideration, the UK government decided not to procure Evusheld for prevention through emergency routes.This was a decision based on independent clinical advice by multi-agency group RAPID C-19 (research to access pathway for investigational drugs) and a UK national expert policy working group.

The decision reflected the epidemiological context and wider policies in our pandemic response and recovery. The groups considered the evidence available and concluded that there was insufficient evidence that Evusheld is effective against the current variants.On 12 August 2022, ministers announced the decision not to procure Evusheld.

Steps were then taken to ensure all current evidence had been considered, including the emerging observational studies. The decision to not procure remained in place and in October 2022, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) wrote a .The following groups considered and reviewed the emerging data relating to Evusheld.The was a multi-agency initiative set up in response to the COVID-19 pandemic that aimed to get treatments for COVID-19 to NHS patients quickly and safely.Its membership included the UK’s main healthcare agencies, including:Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)National Institute for Health and Care.