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The Government will support the use of the new Covid-19 treatment Ronapreve, the drug used to treat former US president Donald Trump when he caught Covid-19.
The drug Roche still needs to be approved by Medsafe, but has already been approved in Australia, and is on Medsafe’s high-priority list-likely suggesting approval.
It is given by infusion or injection and is intended for use in those who are likely to have severe pain from Covid-19.
Pharmac also funded a Covid-19 treatment pill named molnupiravir that could be prescribed for more moderate cases that had not been hospitalized.
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Ronapreve is designed to mimic natural antibodies produced by the immune system and use them to stop Covid-19 binding to lung cells.
It is partially formed by sampling natural antibodies from people who have successfully fought the disease.
Alex Brandon/AP
Former US president Donald Trump used the drug.
Pharmac chief executive Sarah Fitt said the best way to stop getting severe pain from Covid-19 is still the vaccine, but it would be a useful tool to have as a backup.
“While vaccination is by far and away the best line of defense against COVID-19, it’s good to know that New Zealand will have another treatment available for the sick,” Fitt said.
“The unprecedented nature of the pandemic, and the ongoing health risks posed by COVID-19, means that Pharmac continues to seek other treatments that will be used to help those with COVID-19.”
“To fund these other treatments, we are using a dedicated budget allocated by the Government to ensure that New Zealand has access to new drugs for COVID-19.”
As well as the newer drugs Molnupiravir and Ronapreve, Pharmac is funding wider access to tocilizumab, a drug commonly used for arthritis that has also been useful for resistance to Covid-19, and antiviral drugs. drug remdesivir.
Ronapreve, who has the brand REGEN-COV in the USA, was used to treat Trump when he was hospitalized from a Covid-19 infection.
It is licensed for use in many countries, including the UK, US, Japan, and India.
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