AstraZenaca to launch new COVID-19 prevention drug amid global withdrawal of vaccine 

This announcement comes after the drug manufacturer announced the global withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine.  

The pharmaceutical company said on Thursday that the new COVID-19 prevention therapy, sipavibart, demonstrated promising results in reducing infection risk among individuals with weakened immune systems during a late-stage trial.  

According to the company, the long-acting antibody therapy exhibited a “statistically significant reduction” in symptomatic COVID-19 cases among immunocompromised patients, a demographic comprising approximately 25% of COVID-related hospitalisations, ICU admissions, and fatalities, despite having received multiple doses of COVID-19 vaccines. 

The announcement follows the withdrawal of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine, Vaxzeria, a decision that the company attributed to an abundance of updated vaccines available amidst the ongoing pandemic.  

AstraZeneca is currently embroiled in a legal battle in London, with over 50 claimants alleging adverse effects from the vaccine. While the company refrains from commenting on ongoing legal proceedings, it stated that it remained committed to patient safety and emphasised adherence to stringent regulatory standards.