Research body recommends COVID-19 drug

Australia's National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce issued a new recommendation conditionally backing use of Regeneron's COVID-19 antibody cocktail REGEN-COV (casirivimab/imdevimab), as reported Sunday in This is Money.

The body has put forward REGEN-COV for patients hospitalised with moderate to critical COVID-19 who have no detectable virus antibodies.

In these people, the taskforce advises that the risk of death is "probably reduced" by the use of REGEN-COV.

The antibody cocktail is not currently approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration, although Roche is looking to address this.

"Roche is exploring opportunities to make the investigational antibody cocktail available in Australia and will work with the government on a potential supply agreement if approved for use in Australia," a company spokesperson said.