COVID-19 treatments and cystic fibrosis

Recruitment is now closed for the PANORAMIC study. 

The study was recruiting around 10,000 people across the UK and was open to people aged 18 or over with pre-existing conditions including cystic fibrosis.

The study looked at how effective different antiviral treatments are against COVID-19.

Those taking part in the study had the opportunity to take an antiviral treatment (either molnupiravir, or Paxlovid) at home after receiving a positive PCR or Lateral Flow test. Half of those taking part in the study will have received antiviral treatment, and half will have received a control (a placebo or ‘dummy treatment’).

Find out more about the PANORAMIC study

Those who are at highest risk of becoming seriously ill from COVID-19 can access treatment on the NHS if they have tested positive for COVID-19. This includes some people with CF.

These treatments can help some people manage their COVID-19 symptoms and reduce the risk of becoming seriously ill.

There are four treatments currently available: 

Nirmatrelvir and ritonavir (Paxlovid)

Remdesivir (Veklury)

Molnupiravir (brand name Lagevrio)

Sotrovimab (brand name Xevudy)

COVID-19 treatment is only available on the NHS to people who are at the highest risk of becoming unwell from COVID-19. This includes people who are post-transplant or immunosuppressed for other reasons.

You will be informed by the NHS if you are eligible to receive the treatments and test positive for COVID-19. If you have symptoms, you should take a lateral flow test at home and call your GP. They give you more information and check if the treatment is right for you.

These treatments are available across the UK, though the process varies by nation. Eligibility criteria such as age may vary depending on the treatment. If you are eligible, you should be contacted by the NHS to inform you of this. However, the timings of this may vary.

If you feel you may be eligible, but haven’t heard anything, you can contact your GP or CF team to discuss whether you should be in the highest risk group. They can refer you to your local COVID Medicines Delivery Unit who will check if you are eligible for these treatments.

Vaccination remains the best way to protect yourselves and others against COVID-19 infection. However, the vaccines may not be as effective in those who are immunosuppressed, such as people with cystic fibrosis who have had a transplant. Treatments are available to those who are at highest risk of becoming unwell if they test positive for COVID-19, which includes those who are immunosuppressed.

Find out about research Cystic Fibrosis Trust is funding to better understand how the vaccines work in people with CF who are immunosuppressed. 

Read about COVID-19 treatments on the NHS website

What is Evusheld?

Evusheld is a medicine that can prevent COVID-19 symptoms. It was licensed for use in the UK in March 2022 by the MHRA (the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, the body that regulates medicines) for adults who are unlikely to develop a good response from current COVID-19 vaccines. This can include some people with CF, usually those who have had a transplant.

Is Evusheld available for people with CF in the UK?

Evusheld is not available to people in the UK. On 14 June, NICE (the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, the body that provides guidance to the government on health and social care) published their recommendations for the use of Evusheld in the UK. They advised that Evusheld should not be used to prevent COVID-19 in people who are not infected and who have not been exposed to a positive case of COVID-19. This includes:

• people who may not have a strong immune response to the vaccine and 
• people who cannot have the vaccine.

This is because the studies on this treatment were early in the pandemic. NICE do not feel there is enough evidence about how Evusheld works on new variants to recommend this product in 2023. 

They recommend more research on Evusheld and newer variant of the virus.