How can we best allocate monoclonal antibodies to manage COVID-19?

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2022-04-06 01:00

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Monoclonal antibodies are most cost-effective when targeted to treat older, unvaccinated people with COVID-19, according to international research. Using Singapore as a case study, the researchers estimated the potential outcomes of 14 different uses for REGEN-COV (casirivimab and imdevimab); allocating it to different groups based on age, vaccination status and either as treatment or as a preventative measure after COVID-19 exposure. The researchers say COVID-19 patients aged 60 years and older who are not fully vaccinated should be prioritised for the treatment, especially when supplies are limited. They caution that this work was based on clinical trials on efficacy of REGEN-COV carried out pre-Delta and pre-Omicron, so cost-effectiveness will alter if efficacy differs by variant.