Federal government signs contract for drug to treat COVID-19
(Last modification 20.04.2021)
Bern, 20.04.2021 - The federal government has signed a contract with Roche Pharma (Switzerland) Ltd to purchase a promising drug to treat coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). It is a combination of monoclonal antibodies. The first deliveries are planned for mid-May.
On the advice of the Swiss National COVID-19 Task Force, the Federal Office of Public Health has acquired 3,000 doses of monoclonal antibodies (combination of casirivimab and imdevimab) designed to treat COVID-19 and developed by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, in partnership with Roche Holding. The contract value is confidential.
Monoclonal antibodies are antibodies that are cloned in a laboratory and administered intravenously to neutralise the virus. Clinical trials developed by Regeneron in partnership with Roche show that these treatments provide effective protection against severe forms of the disease. The federal government will cover the costs of these treatments until they are reimbursed by compulsory health insurance. The first treatments will be available from mid-May for certain groups of high-risk patients.
These drugs have not yet been authorised but can be prescribed in exceptional cases. COVID-19 Ordinance 3 provides for exceptions to the traditional authorisation procedure, provided that the drug in question prevents and treats COVID-19 based on available data.
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Federal Office of Public Health, Communication, +41 58 462 95 05, media@bag.admin.ch
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Federal Office of Public Health
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