Eligibility, uptake, safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 therapeutics in real world settings

The UK is experiencing a new wave of COVID-19 infections with the Omicron variant at the same time as high circulating levels of DELTA. There is evidence that the Omicron variant is more transmissible and concerns that existing therapeutics (e.g. COVID-19 Vaccines) may be less effective and other therapeutics, such as monoclonal antibodies (MABs) may become ineffective due to mutations. Novel MABs are limited resources and need to be targeted to those at highest risk of poor COVID-19 outcomes who are most likely to benefit. Interim guidance has been produced for MABs and there is an urgent need to determine the numbers/proportion of the population likely to be eligible for these treatments based on existing guidance to inform planning/ordering. It is also necessary to determine the uptake of treatments as they start to be used to ensure they are being used in line with guidance. We also need rapid real-world evidence of the likely effectiveness of treatments alone and in combination and to identify those patients who remain at risk despite treatments This proposal will address a number of key questions, using existing research ready datasets. The overall aim is to determine the uptake, safety and effectiveness of monoclonal antibodies and antivirals in the community. These questions can be addressed very quickly using the QResearch TRE linked datasets with additional questions answered according to DHSC priorities.