FDA issues update on preventive COVID-19 treatment, approves Alzheimer drug

Evusheld may not prevent COVID-19 in immunocompromised individuals exposed to the XBB.1.5 omicron subvariant, because the treatment has failed to neutralize similar subvariants, the Food and Drug Administration announced Friday. While it awaits additional data to verify this, FDA recommends health care providers inform patients about this risk, and advise them to test for COVID-19 and seek medical attention if they develop symptoms. XBB.1.5 currently accounts for about 28% of SARS-CoV-2 variants circulating in the U.S.

In other news, the FDA Friday approved through its accelerated pathway a new treatment for Alzheimer’s disease (Leqembi), the second in a new category of Alzheimer’s medications that target the underlying disease process.