Abu Dhabi has become the first city in the world to receive Sotrovimab, with the first consignment arriving at Abu Dhabi airport yesterday. Following an agreement between the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi, the country's major Group Purchasing Organization (GPO), Rafed, and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). The medication will be utilized for early treatment of specific types of COVID-19 patients in the UAE. Sotrovimab is a monoclonal antibody medication that is administered intravenously. Adults and children over the age of 12 who satisfy specific requirements and are at risk of developing severe COVID-19 can be treated with sotrovimab, according to guidelines approved by the National Scientific Committee. According to studies, the medication can avoid hospitalization and mortality in 85 percent of cases.

The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) endorsed the new GSK medication following a national review, following the US Food and Drug Administration's emergency use authorization. The UAE's Department of Health and Rafed signed a deal with the manufacturer in June and July to assure delivery as early as June and July, allowing UAE patients to be among the first in the world with access to revolutionary healthcare. The National Scientific Committee in MoHAP and Department of Health - Abu Dhabi have worked on the treatment protocols that will guide doctors in defining at risk patients and ensuring that they have access to Sotrovimab according to their risk profile and eligibility criteria.

The Rafed Distribution Center, the region's largest specialized cold-storage facility, will help with the purchase, storage, and distribution of Sotrovimab. The Center has played a vital role to support the efforts of the HOPE Consortium. Dr. Jamal Mohamed Kaabi, Undersecretary for the Department of Health- Abu Dhabi, said: "Abu Dhabi continues its efforts to maintain its number-one city position globally in terms of resilience and safety in COVID-19 times. Through the non-ending support and guidance from our leadership, we continue our daily preemptive efforts to search, assess and source through local and international collaboration, the best evidence-based treatment to our population in Abu Dhabi, UAE and beyond. This medicine is at the forefront of pharmaceutical advancement and is a powerful tool in our fight to end this pandemic. We are looking forward to implementing the eligibility criteria for emergency use of Sotrovimab as part of Abu Dhabi’s commitment to lead an all-encompassing COVID -19 response in prevention, treatment and care."

Rashed Al Qubaisi, CEO of Rafed stated: "Sotrovimab represents a massive breakthrough in the fight against COVID-19. Through our close collaboration and partnership with the Department of Health and GSK, we have been able to work swiftly in the procurement of the medication to ensure an effective and timely roll-out across the UAE. The Rafed Distribution Center continues to fulfil its mission of better serving the UAE public and extending Abu Dhabi’s Covid-19 response to the world."

Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of the Etihad Aviation Group, and Hope Consortium have transported the first batch of Sotrovimab into the UAE using their IATA CEIV-certified PharmaLife product, as the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi finalizes a coherent framework to determine eligibility for Sotrovimab treatment. Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Aviation Group, said: "This achievement further elevates Abu Dhabi’s leading position in the fight against COVID-19, and firmly illustrates the combined capabilities of those entities at the forefront of the capital’s mission. As the UAE’s national carrier, Etihad has played a critical role facilitating the transportation of vaccines and medical supplies to and from the UAE with its specialist pharmaceutical logistics solution."

"We have been working very closely with the Department of Health- Abu Dhabi and Rafed since the interim results of the clinical trials with Sotrovimab were available," said Gizem Akalin, Managing Director and Vice President, GSK Gulf. "The DoH and Rafed have been agile and passionate about accelerating patient access to promising new treatments to confront COVID-19."

"Our partnership with DoH and Rafed is holistic, securing early access to Sotrovimab so that the population in Abu Dhabi and UAE will be among the first in the world to get this new treatment," Akalin said. "There is a great level of scientific and medical collaboration to ensure that medical teams are ready and equipped. As GSK, we see this close cooperation as another sign of Abu Dhabi’s rapid development as a hub for first-class treatment, medicines research, logistics and manufacturing."

The high efficiency and provision of general customs administration has been a great help to all of the efforts involved in receiving the Sotrovimab medication at the Abu Dhabi International Airport, as they have ensured a smooth and rapid customs clearance for the medication, allowing the shipment to be released from the airport customs port as soon as possible.

WAM