The French health authorities have authorized the preventive use of an antibody treatment against Covid-19, in people whose body is resistant to vaccination, provided that they present a high risk of severe form. The High Authority for Health (HAS) “Gives the green light to use [d’]Evusheld in pre-exposure prophylaxis for patients at very high risk of severe form of Covid-19 “, announced Friday evening December 11 the health authority.
Evusheld is a synthetic antibody treatment developed by the AstraZeneca laboratory. It combines two molecules, tixagevimab and cilgavimab, and is given in two successive injections. Unlike most treatments for Covid-19 with antibodies, which are intended for patients already hospitalized to prevent them from developing a very serious form of the disease, Evusheld aims to act before the onset of the disease, on the same principle as a vaccine.
This treatment should supplement vaccination in people whose body reacts poorly to vaccines. It is also aimed at those who are not eligible for vaccination for medical reasons, in particular because they risk serious allergic reactions.
Cardiovascular risks
Among these people, only those who are at high risk of a severe form of Covid-19 will be able to benefit from the treatment, according to the HAS, which gives its position a few days after the American health authorities issued a similar opinion. However, unlike the latter, which authorized it to people 12 years of age and over, the French authority limits the use of this treatment to adults.
Above all, it warns about the cardiovascular risks, identified during clinical trials of the treatment. She therefore does not recommend Evusheld to people who have at least two risk factors in this regard, for example diabetes and obesity. However, these risk factors often overlap with those of a severe form of Covid-19.
In any case, “The patients treated, especially those with a cardiovascular history, must be attentive to the appearance of a cardiovascular symptom in order to consult a health professional if necessary”, concludes HAS.