Abu Dhabi to study efficacy of COVID anti-body therapy

Abu Dhabi has launched a study to assess the efficacy of the long-acting antibody medication Evusheld in protecting immunocompromised patients from COVID-19.

AstraZeneca, in collaboration with Sheikh Khalifa Medical City hospital in Abu Dhabi, will conduct a real-world evidence study with up to 1,000 participants.

It's set to last until the end of 2023, and will be carried out under the supervision of Abu Dhabi's Department of Health (DoH).

The latest study will support high-risk individuals across the UAE and broader Middle East & Africa region by building a body of evidence on how Evusheld may protect against the COVID-19 virus.

Abu Dhabi was one of the first cities in the world to receive a shipment of the AstraZeneca medication.

"The risk of infection from COVID-19 is far from over, especially for immunocompromised and vulnerable populations. Real-world evidence is imperative to help us better understand how the virus is evolving and establish additional tools to protect those at a higher risk," said Dr. Nawal Al Kaabi, Chief Medical Officer at SKMC, who is leading the study.

.@DoHSocial, in collaboration with AstraZeneca, has launched a study to assess the efficacy of the long-acting antibody medication Evusheld in protecting immunocompromised patients from Covid-19. pic.twitter.com/60mFYAXqIe

— مكتب أبوظبي الإعلامي (@ADMediaOffice) August 29, 2022

Approximately two per cent of the global population have compromised immune systems and either do not respond or have an insufficient response to vaccination against COVID-19.

These include patients suffering from cancer, certain immune diseases, people on dialysis or treated with immune suppressive therapy and others with a suppressed immune system.

Evusheld has received emergency use authorisation in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and Egypt and is the only antibody therapy to receive emergency use authorisation in the US for pre-exposure prevention of COVID-19.

Abu Dhabi was one of the first cities in the world to receive the medication and the Evolve Real-World Evidence study will assess its efficacy in 1,000 participants.

Read more: https://t.co/hyIQHAYVcT

— مكتب أبوظبي الإعلامي (@ADMediaOffice) August 29, 2022