Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government why patients who are immunocompromised must (1) test positive for COVID-19, (2) have no detectable antibodies for COVID-19, and (3) have been hospitalised specifically for acute symptoms of COVID-19, in order to access Ronapreve; and what plans they have to end this health inequality between immunocompromised patients and the rest of the population.

The interim clinical policy for Ronapreve (casirivimab and imdevimab) was expanded on 4 November. The clinical policy prioritises the most vulnerable hospitalised patients for whom this treatment will provide the most benefit. Patients are eligible to be considered for Ronapreve if they are hospitalised for management of symptoms of confirmed COVID-19 and negative for COVID-19 antibodies. This is based on clinical trial evidence of efficacy in this group.

Patients are also eligible for Ronapreve if they have hospital-onset COVID-19 and are at high risk of progression to severe illness or if the virus presents a material risk of destabilising a pre-existing condition or compromising recovery. These patients do not need to be negative for COVID-19 antibodies. These conditions are for both immunocompromised and non-immunocompromised patients and reflect clinical trial evidence of efficacy and available supply.