AstraZeneca is supplying Switzerland with approximately 1,200 doses of tixagevimab and cilgavimab, a long-acting combination antibody therapy, for the treatment of COVID-19. The Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) and AstraZeneca have reached an agreement [1] to this effect.
“In concluding the agreement, we are confident that we will soon be able to provide patients in Switzerland with an important additional treatment option for COVID-19. The antibody combination remains effective at neutralizing the currently circulating omicron BA.4 and BA.5 variants, and can soon be used in Switzerland for the treatment and the prevention of COVID-19,” said Katrien De Vos, Country President of AstraZeneca Switzerland.
The treatment is suitable for patients with COVID-19 symptoms, who have an increased risk of a severe disease progression. The product is expected to become available for treatment in August and may only be used in accordance with the applicable criteria of the Swiss Society of Infectious Diseases (SSI).
AstraZeneca previously delivered first doses to Swiss hospitals in early May 2022 for the prevention of COVID-19. The antibody combination is therefore already available for preventive use today and is reimbursed by the federal government.
The antibody combination tixagevimab and cilgavimab (AZD7442)
The antibody treatment (AZD7442) is a combination of two LAABs - tixagevimab (AZD8895) and cilgavimab (AZD1061) - derived from the B-cells of patients convalescing after a SARS-CoV2 infection. Human monoclonal antibodies were discovered at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and licensed to AstraZeneca in June 2020.
The antibodies bind to different sites on the SARS-CoV2 spike protein1 and have been optimized by AstraZeneca to have a prolonged half-life and reduced binding to the Fc receptor and complement C1q. The longer half-life prolongs the duration of action compared with conventional antibodies.2-4 Initial data from the ongoing PROVENT phase III prevention study indicate that the protection lasts at least six months.5 The reduced binding to the Fc receptor should minimize the risk of antibody-dependent exacerbation of the condition, a process in which virus-specific antibodies cause the infection and/or disease to progress instead of inhibiting it.6 AZD7442 is administered as an intramuscular injection.
In August 2021 AstraZeneca announced that AZD7442 showed a statistically significant reduction in the risk of developing symptomatic COVID-19 in the PROVENT study; efficacy was 83% versus placebo in a 6-month analysis, as was published on 18 November 2021. In October 2021, AstraZeneca published the results of the TACKLE phase III outpatient treatment study. In the TACKLE phase III outpatient treatment study, AZD7442 reduced the risk of developing a severe COVID-19 infection or dying (regardless of cause) among non-hospitalized patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 who had been symptomatic for seven days or less (the primary endpoint)7; the risk was reduced by 50% versus placebo, by 67% when patients were treated within five days of symptom onset, and by 88% when treatment was administered within three days.7 90% of the participants in the TACKLE study were at high risk of developing a severe COVID-19 infection.7
AZD7442 is also being studied as a potential treatment for inpatient COVID-19 patients in the ACTIV-3 study of the National Institutes of Health, and in a further study being conducted by cooperation partners.
AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on research, development, and commercialization of prescription medications. Its most important therapeutic areas are oncology, biopharmaceuticals (including cardiovascular, renal and metabolism, and respiratory and immunology), and rare diseases. AstraZeneca is based in Cambridge, UK, and operates in over 100 countries.
AstraZeneca in Switzerland
350 employees are responsible for coordinating local and international business operations in Switzerland. The most important therapeutic areas are oncology, biopharmaceuticals (including cardiovascular, renal and metabolism, and respiratory diseases, as well as immunology), and rare diseases. To reach climate goals ahead of schedule, AstraZeneca is working tirelessly to reduce CO2 emissions and waste. With its “Ambition Zero Carbon” strategy, the company has set itself the goal of carbon-free business operations. In 2021, AstraZeneca Switzerland was rated by its employees for the fourth time in a row as an outstanding employer and honored with the external label “Great Place to Work®”.
Find out more at: astrazeneca.ch
This information is intended solely for media professionals. Please refer to the legal regulations governing medicinal product advertising, especially the advertising ban for as yet non-approved medicinal products and for prescription medicinal products.
AstraZeneca Switzerland Media Office
Tel. +41 (0) 41 725 75 75; media.switzerland@astrazeneca.com
Daniel Widrig, Director Corporate Affairs Switzerland
References
1. Dong J, et al. Genetic and structural basis for recognition of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein by a two-antibody cocktail. bioRxiv. 2021; doi: 10.1101/2021.01.27.428529.
2. Robbie GJ, et al. A novel investigational Fc-modified humanized monoclonal antibody, motavizumab-YTE, has an extended half-life in healthy adults. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2013; 57 (12): 6147-53.
3. Griffin MP, et al. Safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of MEDI8897, the respiratory syncytial virus prefusion F-targeting monoclonal antibody with an extended half-life, in healthy adults. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2017; 61(3): e01714-16.
4. Domachowske JB, et al. Safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of MEDI8897, an extended half-life single-dose respiratory syncytial virus prefusion F-targeting monoclonal antibody administered as a single dose to healthy preterm infants. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2018; 37(9): 886-892.
5. AstraZeneca news release. New analyses of two AZD7442 COVID-19 trials in high-risk populations confirm robust efficacy and long-term prevention. Available at: https://www.astrazeneca.com/media-centre/press-releases/2021/new-analyses-of-two-azd7442-covid-19-phase-iii-trials-in-high-risk-populations-confirm-robust-efficacy-and-long-term-prevention.html. [Last accessed: December 2021].
6. van Erp EA, et al. Fc-mediated antibody effector functions during respiratory syncytial virus infection and disease. Front Immunol. 2019; 10: 548.
7. AstraZeneca news release. Evusheld reduced risk of developing severe COVID-19 or death in TACKLE Phase III outpatient treatment trial. Available at: https://www.astrazeneca.com/content/astraz/media-centre/press-releases/2021/Evusheld-phiii-trial-positive-in-covid-outpatients.html. [Last accessed: December 2021]
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[1] A so-called “reservation” agreement.