Europe 1 6:54 p.m., December 15, 2021
The High Authority for Health recently gave the green light for the use of a new preventive treatment against Covid-19, developed by AstraZeneca.
At the microphone of Europe 1, Olivier Nataf, president of AstraZeneca France, explains how this drug works, which must be injected into the most vulnerable people.
INTERVIEW
While the French government plans to take new measures against Covid-19 by the end of the week, the AstraZeneca laboratory is offering a brand new, preventive treatment to fight the virus.
The High Authority for Health has just given the green light to the use of this drug, which must be injected into the most vulnerable people.
Olivier Nataf, president of AstraZeneca France, explains how the processing at the microphone of Europe 1 works.
A treatment that does not replace the vaccine
This drug, based on monoclonal antibodies, does not replace the vaccine.
"We must obviously continue to apply barrier gestures and mobilize for the vaccine booster campaign," insists Olivier Nataf.
The new treatment developed by AstraZeneca avoids severe forms for high-risk patients.
For people who cannot make antibodies
"Despite the effectiveness of vaccines, there are a number of people who are not completely protected, or even not protected at all because they do not have an immune system that allows them to make antibodies in response to vaccination ", explains the president of AstraZeneca.
"The treatment we are offering is given in the hospital even before exposure to the virus. It is a preventive, pre-exposure treatment."
Protection for "at least six months"
The product must be administered twice, to 350,000 people said to be at risk, in order to counter the virus. This is a treatment with a monoclonal antibody. "Two monoclonal antibodies are given in two intramuscular injections", emphasizes Olivier Nataf. "So it's extremely easy to use and there is protection for at least six months." AstraZeneca is in the process of reviewing nine and 12 month protection.
The first version of the treatment has been validated by the High Authority for Health and deliveries began on Wednesday.
But, the treatment is not intended to be extended to the whole population.
"It will help protect people who are hospitalized, people who have comorbidities. It is extremely important because the pressure on the health care system and the hospital system is extremely strong. This treatment can really help the hospital to prevent them. hospitalizations, serious cases and of course, deaths at the end of the chain, "says the president of AstraZeneca France.