Despite being vaccinated, immunocompromised people remain particularly at risk from Covid-19. To strengthen their protection against the virus, the High Authority for Health has given its consent for these patients to have access to additional preventive treatment, in the form of monoclonal antibodies.
Being immunocompromised sometimes prevents the development of antibodies against Covid-19 following a complete vaccination. The HAS considers that it is the case of 25% of these patients, i.e. 130,000 people in France, even after receiving a third dose. It was therefore necessary to find a way to strengthen their defenses against the disease.
Ronapreve as a preventive measure, for whom?
The drug that will be prescribed for further prevention is called Ronapreve, it is composed of two molecules, casirivimab and imdevimab. This treatment is already offered to Covid-19 patients, from the age of 12, “not requiring oxygen therapy and being at high risk of progression to a severe form of the disease” emphasizes the ANSM website.
For the time being, it is not yet authorized on the market as a preventive treatment. This is an early authorization, for a period of 5 months (with reassessment in 2 months). It will be available for people who respond little (or not at all) to the vaccine and who are likely to develop a severe form of Covid-19, which are still numerous to live confined to protect themselves from it. He will be administered on a once every four week basis as long as patients are exposed to the virus.
Sources: HAS, RONAPREVE (casirivimab-imdevimab) (pre-exposure prophylaxis for SARS-CoV-2 infection), August 4, 2021, ANSM
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