|
Dear Colleague,
This email updates you on details of recently published MHRA guidance on the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic aimed at supporting healthcare partners.
Safety reports of approved COVID-19 vaccines
We have published our weekly safety reports for approved COVID-19 vaccines and you can access the report here.
How COVID-19 tests and testing kits work
The guidance has information on the different types of tests and testing kits for COVID-19, and the specifications for manufacturers.
We have updated the section on lateral flow testing and included a new section on reporting issues with testing kits in the document 'For patients, the public and professional users'.
COVID-19 Therapeutic Alert: Colchicine in the management of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) positive patients – trial use only
The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) issued an alert to recommend that Colchicine should not be used in the management of COVID-19 positive patients other than in the context of a trial, or unless there is an additional licensed indication for its use.
Please see the Central Alerting System website for more information.
Interleukin-6 inhibitors (tocilizumab or sarilumab) for hospitalised patients with COVID-19 pneumonia (adults)
The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) issued an alert to recommend that NHS trusts / health boards consider prescribing a single dose of tocilizumab to eligible hospitalised patients with COVID-19 pneumonia, typically as adjuvant treatment to dexamethasone as standard of care, following the announcement of the findings of the RECOVERY trial.
Sarilumab continues to be recommended for critically ill patients being treated with non-invasive ventilation or invasive mechanical ventilation, who have not already received tocilizumab. Please see the Central Alerting System website for more information.
Guidance for industry
We continue to update our guidance page for industry on GOV.UK as our response to COVID-19 evolves.
Subscribing to updates on GOV.UK
You can sign up for email updates about the MHRA’s work – you will then receive an email every time the MHRA publishes a new page or makes a significant edit to an existing page.
Contacting the MHRA
Most of our workforce is working from home, although National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC) is continuing essential laboratory activities on site. If you need to get in touch with the MHRA during this period, please email info@mhra.gov.uk or phone 0203 080 6000.
For more information please visit mhra.gov.uk.
We welcome your feedback on what other information you would find useful – please email engagement@mhra.gov.uk.
Kind regards,
Patient, Public and Stakeholder Engagement team
Communications division
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf, London E14 4PU
Telephone: 0203 080 6000
Email: engagement@mhra.gov.uk
gov.uk/mhra
Follow us on social media
Read our guidance on coronavirus (COVID-19)
|
