Filenews 18 November 2021
It is only a matter of time before monoclonal antibody therapies arrive in Cyprus, said the Deputy Director of the Pharmaceutical Services of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Elena Panagiotopoulou, who said that the Directorate of Markets and Supplies of the Ministry of Health is in constant communication with the company that makes the production company.
It is recalled that in the past few days the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has given its final approval for the first two monoclonal antibody treatments, which are being put in the arsenal of countries, to deal with the pandemic.
In particular, the EMA's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) recommended the authorisation of Ronapreve (casirivimab/imdevi mab) and Regkirona (regdanvimab), for COVID-19.
The Commission recommended that Ronapreve be authorised to treat COVID-19 in adults and adolescents (aged 12 and over with a body weight of at least 40 kg), who do not need additional oxygen and who are at increased risk of developing their disease into a serious one.
As regards Regkirona, the Commission recommended authorising the medicine, for the treatment of adults with COVID-19 disease, who do not need additional oxygen and who are also at increased risk of developing their disease condition into a serious one.
When will the supply be made?
According to Mrs. Panagiotopoulou, there is currently communication with the company, which however, she noted, has not announced a date when these treatments will be procured in the EU Member States.
He stressed that whenever the rest of the countries receive the treatments, Cyprus will also receive the treatments, adding that the manufacturing company has already started production since November 12th, when it was given the approval.
"We have the contract. We communicate with the supplier. And as soon as there is the supply to the other Member States on the same day it is also done in Cyprus", said Dr. Panagiotopoulou
Asked about the quantities allocated to Cyprus, Dr. Panagiotopoulou said that the quantities received will be based on the analogues of the population in Cyprus.
Who will be given monoclonal antibodies
In response to a question, the Deputy Director of the Pharmaceutical Services of the Ministry of Health said that the monoclonal antibodies will be administered to patients, on the basis of protocols that will be prepared, to note that "inpatient care is required".
As he added, these treatments do not concern the general population, adding that they are recommended for mild or moderate forms of disease and before oxygen therapy, so as to prevent severe disease and death.
