- Published
- 22 December 2022
- Journal article
Uptake of monoclonal antibodies and antiviral therapies for COVID-19 in Scotland
- Authors
- Source
- The Lancet
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 has kept evolving since it was first detected in 2019. Virus mutations have affected transmissibility, virulence, and the effectiveness of vaccines and COVID-19 therapeutics. In Scotland, treatments recently made available for use in patients with COVID-19 are sotrovimab, a neutralising monoclonal antibody that targets SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins, and SARS-CoV-2-specific antiviral drugs that inhibit viral replication. The latter includes nirmatrelvir–ritonavir (Paxlovid, Pfizer), which inhibits viral protease, and molnupiravir, which increases viral RNA mutagenesis. Current guidance advises that these drugs be offered to vulnerable patients within 5–7 days of presenting with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 to prevent disease progression. The choice of treatment is mainly based on pre-existing conditions and concurrent drug treatment. Other more established therapeutics are also used in an inpatient setting to improve outcomes in patients who are hospitalised with severe COVID-19.
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Cite as
Tibble, H., Mueller, T., Proud, E., Hall, E., Kurdi, A., Robertson, C., Bennie, M., Woolford, L. & Sheikh, A. 2022, 'Uptake of monoclonal antibodies and antiviral therapies for COVID-19 in Scotland', The Lancet. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(22)02398-4