A key battle in the fight against COVID-19, following the success of the vaccines, is in protecting immunocompromised patients. Abu Dhabi is expected to play a critical role in that process with its collaboration between the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) and global pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca.
Abu Dhabi has launched a real-world evidence (RWE) study that aims to offer critical real-world data on the safety and effectiveness of AstraZeneca’s long-acting antibody combination, Evusheld, WAM reported.
Evusheld was launched for protecting immunocompromised patients in the UAE against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), earlier this year in March.
The study, is part of the Declaration of Collaboration which was signed last year between the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) and AstraZeneca.
Approximately two per cent of the global population have compromised immune systems, which causes them to be unresponsive or have an insufficient response to the COVID-19 vaccine.
Patients suffering from cancer, certain immune diseases, those on dialysis or treated with immune suppressive therapy and others with a suppressed immune system, can access the Evusheld vaccine.
“We are pleased to witness the fruits of our collaborative efforts that bring us together with partners from around the world to position Abu Dhabi as a leading destination for healthcare and an incubator for innovation in life sciences,” explained DoH Abu Dhabi’s under-secretary Dr. Jamal Mohammed Al Kaabi.
Al Kaabi added the emirate has attracted “global partnerships with prestigious leaders in both the health and pharmaceutical sectors, those who chose Abu Dhabi as a leading destination to proceed with their innovative research projects,” adding the health and safety of the emirate and those from the world over remains “at the forefront of DoH’s priorities.”
The EVOLVE Real World Evidence Study, is expected to continue until the end of 2023 with up to 1,000 participants, is a collaboration between AstraZeneca and Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) hospital in Abu Dhabi, under the supervision of DoH.
“The collaboration aims to further enhance research and development in health sciences and boost innovation in the healthcare sector as part of DoH’s strategy to increase patients’ access to quality healthcare services,” WAM said.
Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, Chief Medical Officer, SKMC and EVOLVE study lea, said: “The risk of infection from COVID-19 is far from over, especially for immunocompromised and vulnerable populations. Real-world evidence is imperative to help us better understand how the virus is evolving and establish additional tools to protect those at a higher risk.
“Looking beyond the pandemic, this innovative study will complement regional efforts to improve the quality of healthcare, advance the digitisation of medical data and meet the growing demand for locally-derived clinical data that captures our unique demographics.”
Abu Dhabi was recognised by global rankings in protecting against COVID-19. It was placed at the top of the world’s cities for its efficiency in dealing with the pandemic and ensuring the health and safety of community members.
Evusheld has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of severe COVID-19 or death compared to placebo in non-hospitalised patients with mild-to-moderate symptomatic infections.
Evusheld has received emergency use authorisation in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and Egypt and is the only antibody therapy to receive emergency use authorisation in the US for pre-exposure prevention of COVID-19.
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