The government approved the purchase of 35,000 packages of antiviral drugs with the effective substance molnupiravir. It is a drug that prevents the spread of coronavirus in an already infected person.
Monoclonal antibodies are copies of the antibody produced by the human immunity system to fight coronavirus infection. Antiviral drugs are the substances used to cure viral diseases, such as Covid.
Three monoclonal antibodies are used in hospitals across Slovakia – casirivimab, imdevimab and bamlanivimab.
They are highly effective if combined. Hospitals that use them to treat patients, especially use a combination of casirivimab and imdevimab.
They would also like to use a combination of bamlanivimab with the fourth drug – etesevimab – but this one is not available. The Health Ministry has not approved it for medical purposes and did not answer when it will be finished. The Ministry's spokesperson Zuzana Eliášová noted that the ministry is currently closing a contract to purchase a combination of bamlanivimab and etesevimab.
Antiviral molnupiravir has not been used because its first supply has yet to be delivered. The ministry did not answer when it will arrive.
About 4,800 people have received monoclonal antibodies in Slovakia. To compare, there were more than 2.4 million vaccinated people as of Monday.
