Evusheld monoclonal antibody combination now available in Malaysia’s private market for prevention of COVID-19 in high-risk individuals

AstraZeneca’s Evusheld (tixagevimab and cilgavimab, MAL 22056042ACR2), a monoclonal antibody combination, has been launched today in Malaysia’s private hospitals for the prevention of COVID-19 in high-risk individuals.

Dr. Sanjeev Panchal, Associate Professor Dr. Adli Ali, Consultant Paediatric Immunologist, and Mr Saravanan Valiatham, patient advocate for Malaysian Patient Organisation for Primary Immunodeficiencies, MyPOPI, at a panel discussion speaking on the new preventive option for high-risk individuals.

The National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) had granted conditional registration for Evusheld in May this year for the pre-exposure prophylaxis (prevention) of COVID-19 in adults and adolescents aged 12 years and older weighing at least 40kg who are unlikely to mount an adequate immune response to COVID-19 vaccination, or for whom COVID-19 vaccination is not recommended.

Evusheld’s introduction to Malaysia’s private market means that the most vulnerable individuals, including immunocompromised patients with underlying health conditions, high-risk individuals and those unable to be vaccinated, can now benefit from an additional prevention option by paying for it through private hospitals.

Dr. Sanjeev Panchal, Country President, AstraZeneca Malaysia speaking at the media launch of monoclonal antibodies.

Dr Sanjeev Panchal, Country President, AstraZeneca Malaysia, said: “Evusheld is an option for high-risk patients to prevent COVID-19 alongside vaccination. While vaccines continue to remain an important tool in the arsenal of protection against the virus, there are some vulnerable populations who are unable to mount an adequate protection from the vaccine alone and some of whom COVID-19 vaccination is not recommended.”

“The conditional approval and availability of Evusheld in Malaysia represents an important milestone in our ongoing efforts to contribute towards public health as the country transitions to endemicity and protect high-risk individuals against COVID-19. Evusheld is the monoclonal antibody combination authorised for COVID-19 prevention in Malaysia, allowing us to help protect the most vulnerable groups of people such as the immunocompromised, ensuring that no one is left behind,” explained Dr Sanjeev.

Evusheld is a combination of two monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), tixagevimab and cilgavimab, administered as two intramuscular injections. Unlike a vaccine, which takes time to train the body’s immune system to respond to a virus, antibodies like Evusheld mimic the body’s natural immune response to immediately identify and attack the virus. The antibodies work by binding to the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus at two different sites. By attaching to the spike protein, the medicine is expected to stop the virus from entering the body's cells and causing infection.

Dr Sanjeev Panchal (right) and Dr Adli Ali (left), following the official launch of monoclonal antibodies in Malaysia’s private market.

Results from the PROVENT Phase III pre-exposure prophylaxis (prevention) trial published in The New England Journal of Medicine showed that Evusheld reduced the risk of developing symptomatic COVID-19 by 77% in the primary analysis, and by 83% in the six-month follow-up analysis, compared to placebo.