The first global shipment of AstraZeneca’s EvuSheld antibody COVID-19 medication has arrived in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.

The Ministry of Health and Prevention in the UAE approved Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the long-acting antibody drug, which is intended to prevent serious illness and death in immunocompromised people.

Adults and children over the age of 12 who are not infected with COVID-19 can get the therapy.

According to the Abu Dhabi Media Office, this drug will be in addition to the existing COVID-19 pharmaceuticals that are already accessible in Abu Dhabi and the UAE.

AstraZeneca revealed earlier this week that Evusheld, which comprises tixagevimab and cilgavimab — monoclonal antibodies that are packaged and injected simultaneously, according to the FDA — is effective at neutralizing the highly infectious omicron form.

The first doses of Evusheld arrived in Abu Dhabi on Monday, thanks to a collaboration of key partners, including Rafed, the UAE’s Primary Group Purchasing organization and the UAE’s procurement arm, as well as Etihad Cargo, the Emirate of Abu Dhabi’s national cargo carrier, as well as AstraZeneca, the British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, and Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC).

The drug will be held at Rafed’s Distribution Center, the region’s largest cold-chain storage facility, before being supplied to health care providers.

“We are happy to see the first doses of Evusheld arrive in the UAE, little over a week after being given Emergency Use authorisation by the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention,” said Sameh Elfangary, AstraZeneca’s national president for the GCC and Pakistan, in a statement.

“The UAE is one among the first nations in the world to obtain and receive Evusheld dosages.” We commend the UAE government’s continued leadership in combating the COVID-19 epidemic by giving early access to novel medications for its citizens.”

Evusheld is given in two separate injections, one for each monoclonal antibody, each given shortly after the other. For six months, it may be beneficial for pre-exposure prophylaxis.

It is not presently approved for the treatment of COVID-19 or for post-exposure prophylaxis.

On Monday, the UAE recorded 301 positive coronavirus infections, the most since 321 on September 25.