Patient Information Leaflet for Evusheld
Updated 15 November 2022
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Package leaflet: Information for the user
Evusheld 150 mg / 150 mg solution for injection, tixagevimab/cilgavimab
This medicine is subject to additional monitoring. This will allow quick identification of new safety information. You can help by reporting any side effects you may get. See the end of section 4 for how to report side effects.
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.
- Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
- If you have any further questions, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
- If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
What is in this leaflet
- What Evusheld is and what it is used for
- What you need to know before you take Evusheld
- How Evusheld is given
- Possible side effects
- How to store Evusheld
- Contents of the pack and other information
1. What Evusheld is and what it is used for
Evusheld is made up of two active substances tixagevimab and cilgavimab. These are both medicines called antiviral monoclonal antibodies. They work specifically against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. They prevent the virus from entering human cells.
Evusheld is used to help prevent COVID 19 infection in adults who are not currently infected with COVID-19 and who have not been recently in contact with someone who has COVID-19 when they:
- are unlikely to be protected by a COVID-19 vaccine.
- or when vaccination is not recommended.
Evusheld is used to treat COVID-19 in adults who do not require supplemental oxygen and who are at risk of progressing to severe COVID-19.
Evusheld is not a substitute for vaccination in individuals for whom COVID-19 vaccination is recommended.
2. What you need to know before you take Evusheld
This medicine must not be given if:
- you are allergic to tixagevimab, cilgavimab or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6)
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before you are given Evusheld if:
- you have low numbers of blood platelets (which help blood clotting), any blood clotting problems or are taking a medicine to prevent blood clots (an anticoagulant)
- you have had a heart attack or stroke, have other heart problems, or are at high-risk of cardiac (heart) problems or blood clots
COVID-19 is caused by different strains (variants) of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that change over time. Evusheld may be less effective at preventing or treating COVID-19 caused by some strains than others. The doctor will take into consideration what is known about the circulating viral variants before prescribing Evusheld. However, do contact your doctor right away if you get symptoms of COVID-19 or if your COVID-19 symptoms worsen. COVID-19 affects different people in different ways:
- the most common symptoms include fever, cough, tiredness and loss of taste or smell;
- the most serious symptoms include difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, loss of speech or mobility, or confusion and chest pain.
Tell a doctor, pharmacist or nurse or get medical help immediately if you notice any signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as:
- difficulty breathing or swallowing
- swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat
- severe itching of the skin, with a red rash or raised bumps
See also section 4.
Children and adolescents
Evusheld should not be given to children.
Other medicines and Evusheld
Tell your doctor, pharmacist or nurse if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines including any medicines that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy or supermarket.
Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse for advice before receiving this medicine.
Driving and using machines
It is unlikely that Evusheld will affect your ability to drive or use machines.
3. How Evusheld is given
Evusheld will be given to as two injections one after the other into a muscle (usually one injection into each of your buttocks).
The injections will be administered by a doctor or nurse in a healthcare setting. You will be observed for at least 1 hour after getting the injections.
The recommended dose for prevention of COVID-19 is 300 mg, given as two injections: * 150 mg of tixagevimab * 150 mg of cilgavimab
The recommended dose for prevention of some variants of COVID-19 is 600 mg, given as two injections: * 300 mg of tixagevimab * 300 mg of cilgavimab
The recommended dose for treatment of COVID‑19 is 600 mg, given as two injections:
- 300 mg of tixagevimab
- 300 mg of cilgavimab
You should be given Evusheld within 7 days of starting to experience symptoms of COVID-19.
Your doctor will decide what dose you need and if you need to receive additional doses of Evusheld for ongoing protection.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Possible serious effects
Allergic reactions may occur during or following administration of monoclonal antibodies. Signs include:
- difficulty breathing or swallowing
- swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat
- severe itching of the skin, with a red rash or raised bumps
Tell your doctor, pharmacist or nurse or get medical help immediately if you notice any signs of a serious allergic reaction.
Other side effects that may occur
Common: may affect up to 1 in 10 people
- hypersensitivity reaction (rash or an itchy red rash or raised bumps) with 300 mg dose
- injection site reaction (pain, redness, itching, swelling near where the injection was given)
Uncommon: may affect up to 1 in 100 people
- hypersensitivity reaction (rash or an itchy red rash or raised bumps) with 600 mg dose
- injection related reaction (examples of these include headache, chills and redness, discomfort or soreness near where the injection was given)
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Coronavirus Yellow Card Reporting site or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. How to store Evusheld
Your doctor, pharmacist or nurse is responsible for storing this medicine and disposing of any unused product correctly. The following information is intended for healthcare professionals.
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the label after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Evusheld should not be used in case of discolouration or particles being observed.
Store the unopened vials in a refrigerator (2°C to 8°C).
Do not freeze.
Do not shake.
Keep vials in the original package in order to protect from light.
Prepared syringes should be used immediately. If necessary, store the prepared syringes for no more than 4 hours either:
- at 2°C to 8°C, or
- at room temperature up to 25°C
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Your healthcare professional will throw away any medicines that are no longer being used. These measures will help protect the environment.
6. Contents of the pack and other information
What Evusheld contains
The active substances are:
- tixagevimad - 150 mg in 1.5 ml of solution
- cilgavimab - 150 mg in 1.5 ml of solution
The other ingredients are histidine, histidine hydrochloride monohydrate, sucrose, polysorbate 80 (E433) and water for injections.
What Evusheld looks like and contents of the pack
Evusheld contains two clear glass vials of solution for injection:
- tixagevimab solution for injection (dark grey vial cap) is a clear to opalescent, colourless to slightly yellow solution
- cilgavimab solution for injection (white vial cap) is a clear to opalescent, colourless to slightly yellow solution
Each carton of Evusheld contains 2 vials, 1 vial each of tixagevimab and cilgavimab.
Marketing Authorisation Holder
AstraZeneca UK Limited, 600 Capability Green, Luton, LU1 3LU, United Kingdom
Manufacturer
AstraZeneca AB
Gärtunavägen
Södertälje, 151 85
Sweden