BBC: Evusheld antibody protection ruled out ...

[Mel9666]

BBC: Evusheld antibody protection ruled out ...bbc.co.uk/news/health-62516896

NICE will investigate in the autumn and hopefully report by April!

[Alberta56]

i wonder why. Is the treatment not yet proven, or is it to save money???

[Hidden in reply to Alberta56]

It’s balancing cost effectiveness against clinical effectiveness: my understanding is that there are formal studies suggesting that it’s not as effective against some of the currently dominant variants of covid, and it’s expensive. Until they’re satisfied that the benefit of injecting people with it meets the cost burden, they’re holding off. As I had life threatening reactions to both Pfizer and AZ, meaning I only had three instead of the five injections that my underlying condition warrants, Evusheld is currently my only hope of any kind of ongoing protection, so I’m very invested in the outcome. But I also accept that the NHS can’t be expected to pay for expensive products that aren’t proven to the standard required. There are currently about 400,000 people that would likely meet the threshold for receiving it, and the cost of the deal done in the US (where my understanding is it’s been bought and given out by the federal government, not via insurers, so generally no cost to patients) works out at roughly $500 a dose. Whilst a deal would also almost certainly be done here, you’re still likely talking £100m plus to inject those that need it in the UK, for protection that only lasts for about 6 months max.

[Alberta56 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for explaining this. I am glad that I do not have to decide whether something is cost effective. I would have thought 400,000 people are enough to justify some very hard negotiating with the drugs companies.

[casey16gatsby]

I'm stateside. Double Lung Transplant patient. I just received my2 nd jabs of Evusheld. Just FYI