Here in the UK, the Government /health bodies have just commenced a trial into the efficacy of Evusheld. Until now of course it's not been available in the UK (except privately for the last month or so).
I am quoting from 3 recent posts on this site, by American contributors
"I received this message from UCSF. I believe, soon they will stop using it everywhere else too.
In recent weeks, California has seen a rapid increase and dominance in circulation of COVID-19 Omicron subvariants which are resistant to our current monoclonal antibody treatment (bebtelovimab) and prophylaxis (tixagevimab/cilgavimab or Evusheld) options.
In light of this changing epidemiology, at UCSF we are no longer providing these therapeutics which are ineffective. UCSF Health has stopped scheduling new adult pts for Evusheld. Effective immediately, UCSF Health is cancelling upcoming Evusheld appointments."
"Just got Evusheld today... but rumor has it this notice is coming to my medical provider soon as well."
"My doctor at MD Anderson said they are no longer recommending Evusheld".
Can anybody explain to me what we are doing here in the UK. Why are we wasting money, putting patients at risk with unnecessary hospital visits, (in addition to wasting their time), re-testing a drug other respected health authorities say will not work against the upcoming prevalent variants.
Of course I'm angry.
Roger
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They have known about Evusheld for so long, they could have tested it a long time ago to justify the cost and efficiency...why they are testing it now, it really baffles me...absolutely crazy...even crazier to think so many of us could have gone back to living a life much closer to the "old normal one" for at least a little while...
The protocol says that they want to look at whether having Evusheld + a vaccine a month later provides more protection. I was lining up to enroll until I saw the data out of the USA ...now, I agree it looks like a waste of time. Let's hope that AZ or others are working on similar options that can deal with the new variants ... and that this time at least the UK government won't turn its back on the #forgotten500k!
Like you I was also thinking of trying to enrol, but no longer. If Evusheld is ineffective and as I've had 6 vaccines, and tested negative for antibodies after each, why would I? I'm just so irritated that this is happening too late and has all the hallmarks of a PR exercise.
I read somewhere that they are intending to release an improved version later next year. This is to cover new variants.I was intending to enrol on the trial and changed my mind after reading reports. If you have this drug you have to trust it and I cant do that.
I hope something is developed to help us. The NHS has given me a lot and I cant moan. I have Ibrutinib, ivig and epilepsy treatment. I have been treated well but I dread to think if I needed to go to A&E. I seem to have so many health issues. In October my toe was infected. It was caused by an ingrowing toenail. The cll is causing my nails to bow and I have to have the big toenails removed. Im dreading it.
I wont hold my breath waiting for Evusheld 2. Anne uk
Hi Roger I totally agree with how you feel about not getting evusheld sooner.
Getting it now through trials or privately seems scary to say the least. I had put my name forward for trial as my haematologist approves of evusheld. He has to contact the trial coordinators on my behalf and I am waiting for a reply. I will speak to him about whether or not he thinks the trial is safe and worthwhile once they reply to him,then make my own decisions.
I have been in contact with my MP about the U.K. government not providing evusheld and she spoke at the Westminster Hall debate on my behalf. I finally got to meet with her this morning and brought her up to date. She did say that Covid seemed to be back on the governments agenda again given the rise in cases and they had appointed a vaccines minister. This post had been decommissioned.
Let’s hope AZ can update the vaccine or another pharmaceutical and this crazy situation we find ourselves in improves🤞 and the government gets a move on.
Ann, I was thinking of you when I started this post, as I knew you had written that your intention was to join the trial.
I don't know who your MP is (I watched the Daisy Cooper led Westminster Hall debate, and can't remember who else spoke), but I'm sceptical about her assurance that the Government are taking Covid seriously. Only 2 or 3 days ago Kate Bingham, the former head of the UK vaccines taskforce, (and as far as I'm concerned the only person to come out of the Covid event with her credibility completely intact...in fact she was brilliant), said the country had “lost its leadership” developed in the early months of the pandemic by weakening its ability to access jabs that could tackle new covid variants. (*More from Kate Bingham's evidence to the Parliamentary Health and Science Committee below).
And leading virologist Professor John Bell said there had been an “absolutely dramatic reversion” in the success the UK had made not only on vaccines but also testing and antivirals.
Prof Bell told MPs the lack of surveillance and centralised data to keep track of covid, which was scaled back earlier this year, meant the UK’s clinical research capacity was “actually much much worse than it’s ever been in my living memory”.
If you go ahead of course I wish you success.
Roger
* Kate B told the joint health and science committee that existing covid vaccines – including the new bivalent booster shot which offers protection against severe disease from Omicron strains – were “not good enough”, particularly at reducing transmission.
"While European countries are increasing their capabilities to face new viruses or new variants of covid, the UK is “not in a much better place to deal with a new pandemic”, she said. “We’ve got the capability in the country, but it can’t be done in a vacuum, we need to have an expert leader to bring that together to try and get us back into a better position.”
“Our vaccines currently are not good enough, we need to improve the quality of the vaccines, the durability, the ability to stop transmission, the ways in which we give vaccines, lots of things need to be improved.
“We need to bring together the capabilities that we’ve got, working in partnership as we did effectively in 2020 to actually make sure we stay ahead of the game and not constantly looking in the rear-view mirror.“ What’s going wrong is there has been no expert or leader that’s put in place to coordinate the activities.“People that understand manufacturing scale up, clinical development, regulation… all of that has gone.
She said while she had initially thought the problem was a “lack of experience of officials … actually, I’m beginning to think that this is deliberate Government policy, just not to invest and not to support the sector”.
She cited the sale of the Vaccines and Manufacturing in an Innovation Centre to US company Catalent, which has since announced that it will not be putting expenditure in until 2024. “It has been sold and mothballed,” Dame Kate said.
Cobra Biologics, “a key part of the early scale for the vaccine manufacturing”, has been acquired by American pharmaceutical company Charles River. The company has since announced that manufacturing from the firm is being transferred to the US.
So far as that debate and Jenrick & co are concerned, it appears that had more to do with penny-pinching than any genuine wish to help those who get ill or are immunosuppressed. Put it off long enough there will be fewer people to complain & have money spent on them. Be careful who/what you vote for . . .
This woman actually knows what she is talking about - the politicos . . .
"Our records show that you received a dose of Evusheld injection at a Cleveland Clinic location.
We are writing to inform you that, unfortunately, the COVID-19 Monoclonal Antibody for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), Evusheld, is not effective against the current circulating COVID-19 variants. Therefore, we will no longer be offering it at Cleveland Clinic locations and additional Evusheld doses are no longer required. Currently, there are no other options for COVID-19 preventive treatment."
Thanks for posting that Lexie. I'm not sure whether it's worse to have had it and then be told it's ineffective (USA), or never to have been offered it at a time it might have been effective (UK).
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