Thailand Intensifies Rollout of COVID-19 Long-Acting Antibody Treatment

The Ministry of Public Health is bolstering its efforts to offer Long-Acting Antibody (LAAB) treatment to Thais.

The LAAB is an antibody combination used for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 and the one approved for conditional marketing in Thailand is licensed to AstraZeneca as AZD7442 (tixagevimab and cilgavimab).

According to AstraZeneca, clinicals trials have shown the LAAB was able to reduce the risk of severe COVID-19 or death by 88% among patients who received it within three days of their symptoms' onset.

According to a report by the National News Bureau of Thailand on Feb. 26, the Ministry of Public Health will be vigorous in delivering the LAAB treatment to nursing home residents and elderly patients at hospitals.

Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul cited one study that found the LAAB remains 82.8% effective against COVID-19 up to six months. It also works against BA 2.75, which is the predominant strain in the kingdom at this time.

About 57,000 of Thailand's 200,000 clinically vulnerable population have received the LAAB. The rollout of the LAAB in public and private health care facilities shall remain free, as per the report.