ABPI response to COVID antivirals announcement

The government has made a deal to secure 2 new antiviral COVID-19 treatments for this winter, which could see thousands of patients benefit.

Should the treatments be approved by the MHRA, they are expected to be given to those most at risk from the virus, helping reduce the severity of symptoms and ease pressure on the NHS over winter.

In response Richard Torbett, Chief Executive of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, said:

“Vaccines have already done so much to help break the link between infections and hospitalisations. Antivirals are another line of defence for the most clinically vulnerable and patients who are seriously ill with COVID-19. This is good news, and another example of the pharmaceutical industry and government working together to make sure we have as many effective tools as possible to tackle this pandemic.”