European Union trusts that there will be five treatments against COVID-19 by the end of the year

The European Commissioner for Health, Stella Kyriakides, appreciated the green light of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) two treatments against COVID-19, Ronapreve and Regkirona, and trusted that by the end of the year there will be five drugs of this type authorized in the European Union (EU).

“With COVID-19 infections on the rise in almost all Member States, it is reassuring to see many promising treatments in development as part of our COVID-19 therapeutic strategy. Today we are taking an important step towards our goal of authorizing up to five new treatments in the EU by the end of the year, ”Kyriakides said in a statement.

The two treatments authorized this Thursday, based on antiviral monoclonal antibodies, will be used during the early stages of the infection.

The EU underlined in a statement that vaccination “remains the key tool to combat COVID-19, protect against infections, hospitalizations, deaths and the long-term consequences of diseases.”

Despite the fact that the EU has one of the highest vaccination rates in the world, “people will continue to get sick and will need safe and effective treatments to fight infections and improve the prospects not only for a faster recovery, but also for survival”, Indian.

Brussels also indicated that, within the framework of the European therapeutic strategy, it is also supporting Member States to gain access to new medicines through joint procurement in the EU.

So far, two acquisition agreements have been concluded and negotiations are underway for more COVID-19 therapies that are being evaluated by the EMA.

“Member States can already request our contract for 55,000 Ronapreve treatments,” the EU indicated.

The EMA is currently evaluating six other drugs.

“The progression of the pandemic in the EU shows how fragile the situation is and how important it is that COVID-19 patients have access to safe and effective treatments. But what it shows even more is that we must continue the vaccination campaign, especially in those Member States with lower vaccination rates. Vaccination is the only preventive way out of the crisis ”, he stressed.