Paul-Ehrlich-Institut

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Mon­o­clon­al An­ti­body Com­bi­na­tion Evusheld for the Pre­ven­tion of COVID-19 Avail­able in Ger­many

The Federal Ministry of Health (BMG) began providing limited quotas of the drug Evusheld (tixagevimab/cilgavimab) for the prophylaxis of COVID-19 in mid-February 2022 to certain groups within the framework of the Supply Assurance for Medical Needs Ordinance (Medizinischer Bedarf Versorgungssicherstellungsverordnung, MedBVSV).

Antibodies and Viruses (Source: ustas777777/Shutterstock.com)

COVID-19 Prophylaxis with Evusheld

Evusheld can be used to prevent COVID-19 in adults and adolescents (from 12 years of age with at least 40 kg body weight) without an existing SARS-CoV-2 infection, if they have not had close contact with COVID-19 infected persons and

  • their immune system is moderately or severely impaired due to underlying diseases or immunocompromising therapies and an inadequate immune response to SARS-CoV-2 is expected

or

  • an active COVID-19 vaccination (as currently authorised) is not advisable due to the individual’s history of severe adverse reactions (such as serious allergic reactions).

Mechanism of action - Evusheld

Evusheld consists of two monoclonal antibodies, tixagevimab and cilgavimab. Monoclonal antibodies are immune system proteins that recognize and bind to a certain structure (an antigen). Tixagevimab and cilgavimab were designed to attach to two different sites of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. By binding to the spike protein, the antibodies prevent the virus from penetrating into the body's cells and causing an infection. They are called neutralising antibodies. Since the antibodies attach to different parts of the spike protein, their combination can be more effective than the use of a single neutralising antibody.

Updated: 14.03.2022