Anti-viral drug Sotrovimab found effective for Covid-19 treatment in the UAE – SEHA

Anti-viral medicine Sotrovimab has “effectively supported” patients who contracted the Covid-19 vaccine in the UAE, the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company, (SEHA) has said.

The new drug is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the UAE’s Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) for the treatment of Covid-19 under an emergency use authorisation.

Sotrovimab, which is produced by global biopharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), is a monoclonal antibody treatment delivered through intravenous therapy, and can be used to treat adults and children above the age of 12 who meet certain criteria and are at risk of progressing to a severe Covid-19 condition.

The UAE was one of the first countries in the world to receive a shipment of Sotrovimab in mid-June, following an agreement between the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, Rafed, a group purchasing organisation, GSK and Etihad Cargo.

Read: Abu Dhabi becomes first location to receive new Covid-19 medication

Sotrovimab helps reduce the number of cases requiring hospitalisation for more than 24 hours.

It also reduces the number of deaths from Covid-19 by up to 85 per cent when given to patients as an early treatment method, SEHA said.

Dr Anwar Salam, chief medical officer at SEHA, said: “We were quick to adopt the emergency use of Sotrovimab and it has proven successful, with a number of those who used this treatment after contracting Covid-19 showing positive response in a short timeframe.”

Patient experience

While quarantining at home, Saeed Al Ameri, a 36-year-old Emirati who tested Covid-19 positive earlier this year, began experiencing high fever, headaches, and body pain, after which he was admitted to the intensive care unit at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), part of the SEHA network, and prescribed Sotrovimab.

His fever soon began to drop, with his overall condition improved, leading to his discharge within four days.

However, soon after his discharge, Al Ameri’s wife and mother’s health began to deteriorate, after which both were immediately transferred to SKMC’s intensive care unit and also received Sotrovimab. They also recuperated and were discharged within four days.