Abu Dhabi first in world to receive COVID-19 medication Sotrovimab

Abu Dhabi first in world to receive COVID-19 medication Sotrovimab

Saudi Gazette report ABU DHABI “” The world's newest anti-viral treatment for COVID-19, Sotrovimab, is now available for early treatment of certain categories of COVID-19 patients in the UAE following a landmark agreement between Abu Dhabi's health department, the country's leading Group Purchasing Organisation (GPO), Rafed, and global innovative biopharmaceutical company, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). With the arrival of the first shipment on Tuesday, Abu Dhabi becomes the first city in the world to receive this drug, the UAE's official news agency WAM reported. Sotrovimab is a monoclonal antibody treatment delivered through intravenous therapy. Sotrovimab can be used to treat adults and children above the age of 12 who meet certain criteria and are at risk of progressing to severe COVID-19, as per protocols that have been developed by the National Scientific Committee. Studies have shown the medicine to prevent hospitalization and death in 85 percent of early selected treatment cases and can work on all known variations to date. Following the US Food and Drug Administration's emergency use authorization, the UAE health ministry issued its endorsement of the new GSK medicine following a national assessment. Abu Dhabi's health department and Rafed executed its agreement with the manufacturer to ensure deliveries as