Remdesivir and tixagevimab plus cilgavimab for treating COVID-19

  • Technology appraisal guidance
  • TA971
  • Published: 

Information for the public

Remdesivir

Remdesivir (Veklury) is available on the NHS. It is a possible treatment for COVID-19 in hospitals in:

  • adults who have a high risk of serious illness
  • babies, children and young people aged 4 weeks to 17 years who:
    • weigh at least 3 kg, and:
      • have pneumonia, and
      • need oxygen therapy for COVID-19, or
    • weigh at least 40 kg and have a high risk of serious illness.

Tixagevimab plus cilgavimab

Tixagevimab plus cilgavimab (Evusheld) is not normally available on the NHS for treating COVID-19 in adults who do not need oxygen therapy and who have a high risk of serious illness. Your doctor should talk with you about other treatment options. If you are already having it, you should be able to continue until you and your doctor decide when best to stop.

People with a high risk of serious illness

Some people have a health condition that may increase their risk of getting seriously ill from COVID‑19, such as: 

  • Down’s syndrome
  • certain types of cancer, including leukaemia
  • certain conditions affecting the blood, such as sickle cell disease
  • people who have had a stem cell transplant
  • kidney disease
  • liver disease
  • people who have had an organ transplant
  • conditions affecting the immune system, such as HIV or AIDS, inflammatory conditions or immunodeficiency
  • conditions affecting the brain or nerves (multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease, Huntington’s disease or myasthenia gravis).

The full list of conditions is available in section 5 of NICE’s technology appraisal guidance on nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir, sotrovimab and tocilizumab for treating COVID-19.

 

Is treatment right for me?

Your healthcare professionals should give you clear information, talk with you about your options and listen carefully to your views and concerns. Your family can be involved too, if you wish. See our webpage on making decisions about your care.

Questions to think about

  • How well does it work compared with other treatments?
  • What are the risks or side effects? How likely are they?
  • How will the treatment affect my day-to-day life?
  • What happens if the treatment does not work?
  • What happens if I do not want to have treatment? Are there other treatments available?

Information and support

The NHS webpage on COVID-19 may be a good place to find out more.

These organisations can give you advice and support:

You can also get support from your local Healthwatch.

NICE is not responsible for the quality or accuracy of any information or advice provided by these organisations.

ISBN: 978-1-4731-6110-8

 

This page was last updated: