They could be another building block in the fight against the corona pandemic: The EMA is now clearing the way for two new corona drugs.
Amsterdam – The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has cleared the way for the approval of two new drugs against Covid-19. It is about the antibody therapy Ronapreve from the Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche and the drug Regkirona (Regdanvimab) from the manufacturer Celltrion from South Korea. The EMA announced on Thursday in Amsterdam. Both drugs are intended to be used in the early stages of infection and are based on antiviral monoclonal antibodies.
EMA recommends new Covid drugs – EU Commission has to make final decision
The EMA experts had checked and evaluated all the manufacturer’s data from studies on the effectiveness and possible side effects of the agents. After the positive recommendation, the EU Commission must make the final decision. But that is a matter of form. So far, only one drug for the treatment of Covid 19 patients has been approved in the EU.
Ronapreve consists of two antibodies (casirivimab and imdevimab). It is co-produced by the US manufacturer Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and should be able to be given to people aged 12 and over who are infected with the coronavirus and are at high risk of a severe course. In Germany, this antibody combination is already used in special cases for corona patients.
New corona drugs: “Take a giant step”
The Regkirona remedy is intended to treat adults who are sick with Covid-19 but do not yet need oxygen.
The European Commissioner for Health, Stella Kyriakides, welcomed the decision. “Today we are taking a giant step towards achieving our goal of approving up to five new therapeutics in the EU by the end of the year.” (Dpa)
