- Between May and June 2022, 13 parliamentary questions (PQs) were answered regarding the UK Health Security Agency testing covid-19 variants for a pre-exposure prophylaxis antibody therapy (tixagevimab and cilgavimab), known by the brand name Evusheld. The PQs are: PQ3627; PQ2654; HL215; HL219; PQ1507; PQ3710; PQ11547; PQ14599; HL157; PQ17128; PQ15321; HL653; and PQ691.In simplifying the technical language, the responses to these PQs incorrectly indicated that testing was ongoing. During June, the UK Health Security Agency carried out isolation and characterisation of the BA.4 omicron variant in preparation for testing it against various compounds, which could potentially have included Evusheld. However, in the PQ responses, these activities were incorrectly interpreted as testing and the language was simplified. No further testing of Evusheld including against BA.4 omicron variant took place after 26 May 2022.The table below summarises the testing UKHSA carried out on Evusheld.
Run Number
Test Week
Data Analysed
Variant/Comments
CVAOOO56
25 April 2022
3 May 2022
Omicron BA.2
CVA00057
3 May 2022
11 May 2022
Omicron BA.2
CVA00058
9 May 2022
15 May 2022
Omicron BA.2
CVA00059
16 May 2022
22 May 2022
Omicron BA.2
CVA00060
23 May 2022
No analysis required because previous data captured on CVA00059 was sufficient.
Testing ceased 26 May 2022
Through this WMS I am apologising for these errors and clarifying the situation with regards to the testing of Evusheld. The Department takes its responsibility for parliamentary accountability very seriously and has reviewed and amended the process for checking responses to parliamentary questions to ensure future accuracy. The table below sets out the PQ reference, the Member or peer who asked the question and the date it was published.PQ Reference
Member/Peer
Date Published
PQ3627
Chris Green MP (Bolton West & Atherton)
24 May 2022
PQ2654
Amy Callaghan MP (East Dunbartonshire)
24 May 2022
HL215
Lord Mendelsohn
25 May 2022
HL219
Lord Mendelsohn
25 May 2022
PQ1507
Alex Cunningham MP (Stockton North)
7 June 2022
PQ3710
Alex Sobel MP (Leeds North West)
7 June 2022
PQ11547
Christopher Chope MP (Christchurch & East Dorset)
14 June 2022
PQ14599
Dan Carden MP (Liverpool Walton)
14 June 2022
HL157
Lord Mendelsohn
16 June 2022
PQ17128
Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP (Streatham)
17 June 2022
PQ15321
Catherine West MP (Hornsey & Wood Green)
21 June 2022
HL653
Lord Mendelsohn
20 June 2022
PQ691
Henry Smith MP (Crawley)
21 June 2022
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