Health Alert Network Message for Healthcare Providers
Update on COVID-19 Therapeutics
March 31, 2022
The purpose of this message is to provide several important updates on therapeutics for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.
Evusheld (tixagevimab co-packaged with cilgavimab) is expected to be effective against Omicron, including the BA.2 subvariant
Evusheld is a combination of two long-acting monoclonal antibodies authorized for the pre-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19 in certain individuals who are not expected to mount an adequate response to COVID-19 vaccination or for whom a currently available COVID-19 vaccination is not recommended due to a history of a severe adverse reaction. New preclinical data show that Evusheld retains neutralizing activity against the BA.2 subvariant. (See: https://www.astrazeneca.com/media-centre/medical-releases/evusheld-long-acting-antibody-combination-retains-neutralising-activity-against-omicron-variants-including-ba2-in-new-independent-studies.html.) Evusheld is an effective preventive strategy for high-risk patients who meet the EUA criteria outlined in the Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers: https://www.fda.gov/media/154701/download.
Sotrovimab is no longer authorized for use in Idaho
On March 30, 2022, the FDA revoked authorization for use of the monoclonal antibody sotrovimab in Idaho (among other states) at this time. Sotrovimab is not thought to be effective against the Omicron BA.2 sub-variant, and recent data indicate that the proportion of this variant in the region is greater than 50%. Read the FDA statement here: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-updates-sotrovimab-emergency-use-authorization. Bebtelovimab, another monoclonal antibody for the treatment of COVID-19 in certain high-risk individuals, is still authorized for use in Idaho.
Oral antivirals are available throughout Idaho
The oral antiviral medications Paxlovid and molnupiravir, currently authorized for treatment of COVID-19, are now widely available in Idaho. These medications are currently stocked in all Walmart pharmacies, some Albertson’s pharmacies, and several independent pharmacies. Idaho public health officials are working with additional pharmacies to make this more widely available. You can find many of the locations where these medications are stocked on the HHS locator map, found here: https://covid-19-therapeutics-locator-dhhs.hub.arcgis.com/.
Clinicians may also be interested in participating in a CDC webinar about Paxlovid on Saturday, April 9th, 2022. Registration information is here:
https://societycentral.zoom.us/webinar/register/3915918840180/WN_LrLBu-22RDGUMIz0jpse3w.
Interested sites can receive therapeutic products
Facilities that are interested in receiving these therapeutics for administration (the monoclonal antibodies) or dispensing (the oral antivirals) can contact Dr. Marcia Witte at the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare for more information (marcia.witte@dhw.idaho.gov).