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Cabinet officials

Ireland to Purchase COVID-19 Antiviral and Monoclonal Antibody Treatments from Pfizer, GSK, and Merck

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Irish government has confirmed that it will pursue the purchase of COVID-19 antiviral and monoclonal antibody treatments, with a focus on EU Joint Procurement Agreements. This decision comes as COVID-19 incidence rates reach unprecedented levels in Ireland, with the health service struggling to cope with the increasing number of hospitalizations. Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly emphasized the importance of using all available tools to protect essential services and vulnerable populations.

Key Takeaways:

  • Ireland will seek to purchase treatments manufactured by Pfizer, Glaxo Smith Kline (GSK), and Merck (MSD), including Pfizer's Paxlovid and Merck's Lagevrio.
  • The EU Commission is progressing a Joint Procurement Agreement (JPA) for antivirals, which includes MSD's Lagevrio and Pfizer's Paxlovid, and Ireland has indicated its intention to participate.
  • Ireland is already a participant in an EU JPA for the purchase of the GSK monoclonal antibody product Xevudy (Sotrovimab).
  • The Health Service Executive (HSE) is exploring opportunities to procure antivirals through bilateral agreements at national level.
  • A National Therapeutics Advisory Group has been established to evaluate and provide recommendations on all therapeutics with potential for use in the treatment of COVID-19 in Ireland.
  • A Therapeutics Operational Group has been established to develop arrangements for the provision of these treatments to patients who may benefit from their use.
  • Minister Donnelly has thanked the teams across the Department of Health and the HSE for their work in operationalizing the use of these treatments.

Statistics:

  • Ireland has the best booster rollout campaign in the European Union (Source: Minister Donnelly).
  • Over 4.8 million people in Ireland have receive a booster dose (Source: EU data).
  • COVID-19 hospitalizations have increased significantly in recent weeks, with over 1,000 new cases reported in the past 24 hours (Source: HSE data).
  • The EU Joint Procurement Agreement for antivirals includes MSD's Lagevrio and Pfizer's Paxlovid (Source: EU Commission).
  • Ireland is already participating in an EU JPA for the purchase of the GSK monoclonal antibody product Xevudy (Sotrovimab) (Source: EU data).
  • The HSE is exploring opportunities to procure antivirals through bilateral agreements at national level (Source: HSE data).

Sources:

  • "Minister Donnelly provides update on COVID-19 therapeutics", [Statement from Minister Donnelly, Department of Health, dated January 2022](https://www.gov.ie/en/news/5e9f3-minister-donnelly-provides-update-on-covid-19-therapeutics/)
  • "COVID-19 Booster Programme", [EU Commission data](https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_430)
  • "HSE COVID-19 Data", [HSE data](https://www.hse.ie/eng/about/who-we-are/information-business/departments/epidemiology-data-and-emergency-preparedness/emergency-planning-and-incident-management/covid-19-data.html)

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